"St. Ekaterina Order"

St. Ekaterina Order It is doubtful weather one more order with the motto "For Love and Motherland" could be found. Exactly these words are written on the ribbon of St. Ekaterina Order, which was instituted by Peter I. In 1711 Peter's I. campaign against Turkey failed.

The tsar himself could be the Sultan's prisoner. Claver diplomatic negotiations and his wife's jewelries, which were given by Ekaterina for the bribery of Turkish ambassadors, saved him.

In commemoration of this event and the proper behavior of Ekaterina who shared all the difficulties of this unsuccessful campaign with her husband, Peter I. decided to institute "Liberation Order".

It was instituted in Saint - Petersburg in 1713.

 It is mentioned that "the order is instituted in honor of the noblest and saint martyr Ekaterina" and must consist of "the honest and God- fearing ladies, married and unmarried".

 It was supposed that it would contain "the leading person - Lady of the Order" (it was a Tsarina), ladies of the Big Cross (the highest degree of the Order) from those princesses having the tsar's consanguinity and 12 without it, as well as 94 holder's ladies of the Small Cross (second degree).

 "The Lady of the Order" had the right to confer the order and deprive of it at her own discretion.

But the princesses of tsar's blood could be deprived only by tsar himself.

The regulations contained the description of Order's signs. It was a kind of a medallion with the image of Ekaterina, in its corners there were letters DSFR - the abbreviated beginning of 19th psalm in Latin - "God, save the Tsar!" Holder's ladies should ware it "on the left side about the heart" on the bow made of white ribbon with an embroidered golden motto "For Love and Motherland". The signs of the Big Cross should have been bigger and richer decorated, and the Cross of "The Lady of the Order" should be the richest of all.

Nothing is said about the star in the regulations. But soon it appeared. At first it was of an arbitrary shape and then it became eight - pointed. It was made of silver and in 18th century it was decorated with diamonds, in its middle there was a red enamel medallion with the image of a semicircle, cross and motto.

The Star could be given only to the women of the Big Cross. It should be worn on the left side of the breast. Besides, the sign of the Order was attached to the ribbon warn across the right shoulder. In November, 24, 1714, after the ceremonial divine service in the presence of all the court, Ekaterina was decorated with the signs.

Till Peter's I. decease she was the only holder of the decoration.

When Ekaterina came to the throne in 1725, she granted the decoration to other ladies of the empire. Peter's daughters, Anna and Elisabeth, were the first to be granted with it and then 7 other ladies got it. In April, 5, 1727, according to the regulations about the Russian orders, it took a new name - "St. Ekaterina Order" and became the second most important decoration in Russia.

The church of St. Ekaterina in Tavrichesky palace of Saint - Petersburg was given to the Order. While the Order existed, its signs were handed 724 times.

Composition:

Medal - bronze

Order - alloy; tin and silver with the gold covering

Portrait painting with the use of cold and hot enamel

 Medal

Order

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