Orden des heiligen Josef

The Order of Saint Joseph was a society or order of chivalry in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. The Order was instituted in 1768 by Emperor Joseph II and was associated with the imperial castle of Friedberg. This fortress was the property of the Empire.

The emperor was Grand Master, the castle’s burgrave was Grand Prior, and the master builder and a number of the 100 noble officers from the surrounding area, whom Johann Georg Krünitz called “Regiments-Burgmanne,” were commanders, while most of the ordinary “Burgmanne” were knights in this Order.