Ordre de l'Union Parfaite
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Ordre_de_L_Union_Parfait.jpg/180px-Ordre_de_L_Union_Parfait.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/SophieMagdalenevonBrandenburg-Kulmbach01.jpg/180px-SophieMagdalenevonBrandenburg-Kulmbach01.jpg)
The medal with its dark blue ribbon can be clearly seen.
The Ordre de l'Union Parfaite was created by Queen consort Sophie Magdalene of Denmark and Norway on August 7, 1732 to celebrate her happy tenth anniversary with King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway. The motto was "Felicissimæ Unionis In Memoriam" (In memory of a happy commitment) and was the first Dano-Norwegian order, given to both men and women.[1]
The French name can be translated as Order of the perfect commitment or Order of Friendship. The use of French was not unusual in the 18th century royal danish court or in Sophie Magdalene's german homeland, where other such examples exist, such as the Ordre de la Générosité and the Ordre de la Sincérité.
Insignia
The medal consists of a white enameled cross, with a golden crown on each of the four ends. Between the arms of the cross are the, Norwegian lion in gold with a golden halberd and a white shaft, the Brandenburg eagle in gold with red enamel wings. The central portion of the cross has a blue oval medallion, encircled with diamonds, with a crowned monogram of Sophie Magdalene and Christian VI. The silk ribbon is dark blue with silver edge. This however has become highly discolored over the centuries, but the original color can be seen in portrait paintings of the recipients. It was worn by the gentlemen in the left buttonhole and by the ladies on the left side of her chest.[2]
After the death of the Queen on May 7, 1770, the order was no longer granted.
Recipients
Men
- Gustav Grüner (1751) [3]
- Count Adam Gottlob Moltke (1747) [4]
- Count Carl von Hesse-Cassel (March 31, 1759) [5]
- Count Frederick von Hesse-Cassel (March 31, 1759) [6]
- Johann Christoph von Reitzenstein [7]
- Andreas Rosenpalm [8]
- Henrik Stampe (1770) [9]
- Frederik Christian von Qualen (1768) [10]
Women
- Countess Anne Sophie Schack [11]
- Countess Anna Joachima Danneskiold-Laurvig (née von Ahlefeldt) [12]
- Frederica Duchess of Württemberg (1699-1781) [13]
Sources
Ackermann, Gustav Adolph (1855). Ordensbuch sämmtlicher in Europa blühender und erloschener Orden und Ehrenzeichen (in German). Annaberg: Rudolf & Dieterici. p. 221. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
Andersen, Carl (1867). Rosenborg: mindeblade fra de danske kongers kronologiske samling (in Danish). Copenhagen: Forlagsbureauet. p. 67. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
Footnotes
- ^ Ackermann, Gustav Adolph (1855). Ordensbuch sämmtlicher in Europa blühender und erloschener Orden und Ehrenzeichen (in German). Annaberg: Rudolf & Dieterici. p. 221. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Andersen, Carl (1867). Rosenborg: mindeblade fra de danske kongers kronologiske samling (in Danish). Copenhagen: Forlagsbureauet. p. 67. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887–1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. VI. Bind. Gerson - H. Hansen. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
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: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XI. Bind. Maar - Müllner. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. pp. 380–389. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
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(help) - ^ Andersen, Carl (1867). Rosenborg: mindeblade fra de danske kongers kronologiske samling (in Danish). Copenhagen: Forlagsbureauet. p. 67. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Andersen, Carl (1867). Rosenborg: mindeblade fra de danske kongers kronologiske samling (in Danish). Copenhagen: Forlagsbureauet. p. 67. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
- ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XIII. Bind. Pelli - Reravius. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
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(help) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XIV. Bind. Resen - Saxtrup. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
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(help) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XVI. Bind. Skarpenberg - Sveistrup. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
{{cite book}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XIII. Bind. Pelli - Reravius. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
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(help) - ^ Bjørn, Claus (2010). "Anna Sophie Schack (1689 - 1760)" (in Danish). Copenhagen: Dansk Kvindebiografisk leksikon. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887–1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. IV. Bind. Clemens - Eynden. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. V. Bind. Faaborg - Gersdorff. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
{{cite book}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Bricka, Carl Frederik (1887 - 1905). Dansk biografisk Lexikon (in Danish). Vol. XIII. Bind. Pelli - Reravius. Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
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: Check date values in:|date=
(help)