Knightly Order exclusively for Catholics of noble descent, and imposed upon the members the duty of "defending religion and the honour of God." When Bavaria became a kingdom, and Maximilian Joseph I. began to introduce reforms in the several Orders of the state—as already seen in those of St. Hubert, St. George, and Max Joseph—he added, in the present Order, (11th September, 1808) the duty of "defending the fatherland." The statutes limited the number of the Knights of the Grand Cross to eighteen (who form the Chapter), of Officers to eight, and of Knights to thirty-six, all of whom must belong to the Catholic religion. The Grand Master was, however, free to nominate fourteen honorary members without regard to birth, rank, or religion. So it stood until the death of the Grand Master, Duke William of Bavaria in 1837. The new statutes date from the 16th February of that year, when the Order was erected into an Order of Merit, without distinction of birth, rank or religion, enlarging the claims thereto, to loyalty, patriotism, and distinction of useful works generally. Nobility is not ipso facto the result of the nomination. Since 1837, the number of the Grand Crosses for natives is fixed at twenty-four (exclusive of those conferred on the Knights of St. Hubert), of Commanders at forty, and of Knights at three hundred. The Order is now in so far connected with that of St. Michael, that the latter follows in rank the corresponding degree of the former.
The decorations (Plate 13, Tab. III. Nos. 16 and 17) are those of the Grand Crosses and Commanders, showing on the obverse in gold-relief St. Michael in warlike attire, surrounded by flashes of lightning. His shield bears the inscription 'Quis ut Deus?" (Who is like God?) The Cross of the (simple) Knights bears upon the face the initials of those three words. The four corners of the crosses of all classes are mounted in gold, containing in gold characters the initials: P. F. F. P. of the
