Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/464

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was worn across the left shoulder towards the left hip, by a white ribbon with two orange-coloured stripes.

The embroidered silver star (Tab. I., No. 4), which still exists, contains in the centre, the Brandenburg Eagle, with the Hohenzollern Arms on its breast, a green garland in its claws, and the legend: 'Sincere et Constanter' (Sincerely and with Constancy).

All the Knights of the Black Eagle were received into this Order, the badge of which they wear round the neck; and to limit the number still more, it was latterly decreed that only those who are already decorated with the Red Eagle, can be received into the Black Eagle. The entrance fees were fixed at thirty Frederics d'or.

The Order, as we mentioned in the Introduction, was re-organized in 1810, in the form as given (Tab. I., No. 6) while two more classes were added to it.

The first class, it was enacted, was to continue to wear the badge across the left shoulder by a white ribbon with orange-coloured stripes.

The Knights of the second class, who had advanced from the third, were to append to the ring on which the cross hangs, three golden oak leaves (Tab I., No. 8), while those of the first class, who had advanced from the two previous classes, were to have, also, this additional decoration appended to the upper part of the star (Tab. I. No. 4).

In 1830, the second class was subdivided into two. The first division were allowed to wear at the side of the Order also a square star (Tab. I. No. 5) representing the cross of the Order with the middle of the star of the first class. The two divisions now pass by the name, second class with the star, and second class without it.

By the same decree of 1830 (18th January), the insignia of the first class, Decoration of Merit, were made to be those of