Orden Bene Merenti

The Order of Well-Deserving [Orden Bene Merenti] was established on 9 August 1932 by Friedrich of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, head of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. The prince, a member of a formerly reigning dynasty, was entitled under the applicable law of orders to establish such a chivalric order.

As the name “Bene Merenti” already indicates, it was intended to recognise good works, that is, charity. Germany had been hit by a severe economic crisis, and alongside the Order of St. John there was room and need for a second charitable chivalric order.

The prince envisaged an order with grades such as Honorary Members (the princes of his house), Knights of Justice, Commanders and Honorary Knights. There would also be Knights, Honorary Ladies, Ladies of Justice and Ladies. The prince and his wife would be the “Herrenmeister” and “Damenmeisterin.” The statutes also included designs for crosses. The four founders—the prince and princess and two family members—seem to have had second thoughts in January 1933. They had boxes full of insignia made and may also have appointed a Knight of Justice, but the project was abandoned at the moment Hitler’s NSDAP took power.