Free SHIPPING!!! Order of Merit of Hesse Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse and by Rhine (1777-1848) On August 25, 1807, Grand Duke Ludwig II established the Order of Merit of Hesse. This honorary award honored extraordinary civil and military merits. Grand Duke Ludwig II established the Order of Ludwig in 1831 as a renewal of the Order of Merit of Hesse. There are five classes of this order. In the early 19th century, the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt was politically determined by the struggle between reaction and progress over the constitution that had been established in 1820. In order to defuse the pressure of the opposition, Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse brought his liberal-minded son Ludwig III into government in 1848 and approved some progressive laws. His Minister of the Interior was Heinrich von Gagern. The order's emblem is a black enameled cross with a wide, red enameled border and gold edging. On the medallion there is the golden code L on a red enamelled background, surrounded by golden laurel branches. On the golden, white enamelled medallion ring there is the word FOR MERIT in golden letters. The motto of this badge of honour is GOD HONOR FATHERLAND. You will receive this medal as a collector's item true to the original. GODE FASCINATION OF COLLECTING Item no. 364-250-1 Careful Packing and Shipping from JMEDALS -Lithuania Good luck!