Order of the Four Emperors

The Order of the Old Nobility, also called Order of the Four Emperors (German: Ritterorden vom Alten Adel oder der vier roemischen Kaiser), is an old family order of knighthood, established on 6 December 1768, of the Counts of Limburg Stirum, sovereign rulers of the counties of the same name in Westfalia.

With this Order were honoured the four Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, namely Henry VII, Wenceslas, Sigismund of Luxemburg and Charles IV. Twelve commanderies with incomes of 500 gulden were attached to the Order. Knights and Commanders gave at their nomination, a substantial amount of money or a territory as commandery to the Order. They could still enjoy the revenues of such territories, but left it to the Order afterwards.

The Order has three grades:

• Grand Cross
• Commander
• Knight (picture)

The eight-pointed cross is covered with white enamel and in the light blue medallion is a gold representation of St George on his horse, fighting a golden dragon. On the arms are written the letters “H-S-W-C” in gold, in honour of the four Emperors. The ribbbon is grey-blue with yellow borders.

In Jörg Nimmerguts catalogue another model of Knight cross can be found with flames on the arms of the cross, a crown and the letters "P-P-D-E". In the medallion is an angel with a child in the hand.

In 1806 the Counts of Limburg Stirum were mediatized and they lost their rule over their counties. Ackermann in his book, published in 1855, listed this Order as extinct. Similary, Archbishop H.E. Cardinale, wrote, that the Order ceased to exist. An examination of the Dutch High Council of Nobility (Hoge Raad van Adel) in 1886 gave the result that Order is extinct.

See also:

• Order of St Philip of the Lion of Limburg

Literature

• Jörg Nimmergut, Deutschland-Katalog 2001 Orden und Ehrenzeichen, Nummers 1088 e.v.
• Gustav Adolph Ackermann, "Ordenbuch" Annaberg 1855
• Orders of knighthood, Awards and the Holy See by Peter Bander van Duren and Archbishop H.E. Cardinale (Apostolic Delegate in the United Kingdom), Buckinghamshire 1985.