Imperial and Royal Order of Wilhelm Kaiserlich und Königlich Orden von Wilhelm | |
Awarded By: | Head of the House of Prussia |
Type: | State Order (formerly) House Order (currently) |
Status: | Unconstituted |
Head Title: | Sovereign |
Head: | Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia |
Grades: | Knight With Collar Knight/Dame Commander Knight/Dame Officer Knight/Dame |
Date: | 18 January 1896 |
House: | House of Prussia |
Higher: | Order of Louise |
Ribbon: | White with a Black stripe in the middle and either side |
The Imperial and Royal Order of Wilhelm (in English "William-Order") was instituted on 18 January 1896 by the German Emperor and King of Prussia Willhelm II as a high civilian award, and was dedicated to the memory of his grandfather Emperor William I "the Great".
The insignia of the Order consisted of a golden medal with the portrait of William I, surrounded by a golden wreath and suspended from a heavy golden collar. This collar with a weight of 222 grams bore the words WIRKE IM ANDENKEN AN KAISER WILHELM DEN GROSSEN (English: "Work in the memory of Emperor William the Great") and was designed by the jewellers Emil Weigand and Otto Schultz.
The order was very exclusive. One of the first to be decorated was Otto von Bismarck. Also among the recipients were:
There are other decorations with this or a similar name: