An 1811 Version Of The Statutes Of The Order Of Maria Theresa

This is a very well preserved copy of the “Statuten des Löblichen Militärischen Maria Theresien-Ordens/Statues of the Praised Military Order of Maria Theresa”, published in Wien/Vienna by the Hof-und Staatsdruckerei in 1811. This book of statutes is 46 pages long and encompasses the regulations of the Order of Maria Theresia. The book measures 260 mm x 202 mm and is generally extremely well preserved for its advanced age. It appears to have gotten in contact with moisture at some point with the colour of the cover page slightly faded and the pages slightly warped, but is nevertheless completely readable.

Footnote: The order was issued to honor Officers who exhibited valor or exceptional bravery in combat, and in cases of higher grades of the Order, it was awarded to Officers who made successful decisions on the battlefield which resulted in the victory or a major military accomplishment. There were three grades of the Order; Knight, Commander and the Grand Cross with Star. As a general rule, Knight’s grade was issued to junior Officers while higher grades were generally awarded to the Austrian (and later Austro-Hungarian) Officers of noble birth or high ranking military leaders; as well as to foreign Heads of State or high ranking allied Officers. Among notable foreign recipients were Russian Emperor Alexander I, German Emperor Wilhelm II, German Field Marshall Von Moltke and the British Duke of Wellington. The order in higher grades seldom appears on the market.