Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria)

Royal Order of Saint Michael Königlicher Orden zum Heiligen Michael
Awarded by The Head of the House of Wittelsbach
Type	Dynastic Order
Established	29 September 1693
Royal house	House of Wittelsbach
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholicism
Motto	QUIS UT DEUS ("Who [is] like God")
Status	1693–1813 (Military Order) 1813—1837 (National Order) 1837-1918 (National Order of Merit) 1918-present (Dynastic Order)
Founder	Archbishop Joseph Clemens, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne
Sovereign	Duke Franz
Grand Master	Prince Max
Grades	Knight Grand Cross with Collar Knight Grand Cross
Former grades	show See Knight Grand Cross, Special Class Knight Grand Officer Knight Commander Knight of Honour Knight Officer Knight, Special Class Cross of Merit, Special Class Cross of Merit Medal of Merit, Special Class Medal of Merit
Ribbon of the order

The Order of Saint Michael (German: Orden zum Heiligen Michael) or Royal Merit Order of Saint Michael (German: Königlicher Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael) was founded on September 29, 1693 ^[1] by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, as a Military order. Initially, this order was only open to the Catholic nobility. Upon its institution, the order consisted of Grand Master, Grand Cross and Knight. The Grand Master was bestowed with a Breast Star. In 1808, the Commander class was added. In 1813, the order received the official title of the Knightly House Order of St. Michael.^[2] On January 18, 1837, King Ludwig I made alterations to the order and the official title was changed to the Order of Merit of St. Michael.^[3] The physical appearance of the decorations also changed at this time.

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