Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
| Military Merit Order Bayerischer Militär-Verdienstorden | |
|---|---|
Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords | |
| Type | military order |
| Awarded for | Bravery or military merit |
| Description | Blue-enameled Maltese cross with an enameled center medallion; can be awarded with and without swords and came in several classes |
| Country | Bavaria |
| Presented by | the Kingdom of Bavaria |
| Eligibility | Military officers and officials, and in certain cases civilians |
| Status | Obsolete |
| Established | 19 July 1866 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art |
| Next (lower) | Ludwig Order |
| Related | Prussian Iron Cross, Saxon Albert Order, Württemberg Friedrich Order with Swords, Baden Order of the Zähringer Lion with Swords |
The Bavarian Military Merit Order (German: Militär-Verdienstorden) was established on 19 July 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was the kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration. The Military Merit Order ranked below the Military Order of Max Joseph (Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden), which was Bavaria's highest military honor for officers (and conferred a patent of non-hereditary nobility on officers who were not already nobles).