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The Order of the Union () was a chivalric order established in 1806 by
Louis Napoleon was highly active despite the short length of his reign and so there were six variants of the order, though these all had more or less the same form, rules and decorations and the different names were all for more or less the same order – the orders have been described by authors such as Mr. , , George Sanders, and as an organic whole. These variants were:
* Order of the Union (12 December 1806 – 13 February 1807)
* Royal Order of Merit (12 December 1806 – 13 February 1807)
* Royal Order of Holland (13 February 1807 – 23 November 1807)
* Royal Order of the Union (23 November 1807 – 6 February 1808)
* Royal Order of the Union of Holland (so-named in the decree of 6 February 1808)
* Royal Order of the Union (6 February 1808 – 1 April 1811?)
The Order of the Union (1806–1807) and the Royal Order of Merit (1806–1807) merged to become the Royal Order of Holland (1807). This new order became the Royal Order of the Union (1807–1808), also known as the Royal Order of the Union of Holland (1808) and finally the Royal Order of the Union (1808).
The order's chaotic history has led some to argue that the Royal Order of Holland broke up in 1807. Other authors such as Schutte, Van Zelm van Eldik and George Sanders emphasize its continuity. They write that the order established in 1806 died out at the same time as the Kingdom of Holland. The continuity is reflected in a letter or circular in French in which Grand Chancellor Maarten van der Goes van Dirxland explains that all these orders all actually made up one order and that "the Knights of the Royal order of Holland can also bear the name of Knights of the union. Union is the aim and foundation of the order. This article must be inserted into the order's statutes. Perhaps it would be convenient to make it the first one?".
Louis Bonaparte
Louis Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland (a French c ...
, younger brother of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
I, for the Kingdom of Holland. The order was abolished in 1811 when the French Empire absorbed the Kingdom of Holland. It was succeeded by the Order of the Reunion.
Variants
Louis Napoleon was highly active despite the short length of his reign and so there were six variants of the order, though these all had more or less the same form, rules and decorations and the different names were all for more or less the same order – the orders have been described by authors such as Mr. , , George Sanders, and as an organic whole. These variants were:
* Order of the Union (12 December 1806 – 13 February 1807)
* Royal Order of Merit (12 December 1806 – 13 February 1807)
* Royal Order of Holland (13 February 1807 – 23 November 1807)
* Royal Order of the Union (23 November 1807 – 6 February 1808)
* Royal Order of the Union of Holland (so-named in the decree of 6 February 1808)
* Royal Order of the Union (6 February 1808 – 1 April 1811?)
The Order of the Union (1806–1807) and the Royal Order of Merit (1806–1807) merged to become the Royal Order of Holland (1807). This new order became the Royal Order of the Union (1807–1808), also known as the Royal Order of the Union of Holland (1808) and finally the Royal Order of the Union (1808).
The order's chaotic history has led some to argue that the Royal Order of Holland broke up in 1807. Other authors such as Schutte, Van Zelm van Eldik and George Sanders emphasize its continuity. They write that the order established in 1806 died out at the same time as the Kingdom of Holland. The continuity is reflected in a letter or circular in French in which Grand Chancellor Maarten van der Goes van Dirxland explains that all these orders all actually made up one order and that "the Knights of the Royal order of Holland can also bear the name of Knights of the union. Union is the aim and foundation of the order. This article must be inserted into the order's statutes. Perhaps it would be convenient to make it the first one?".
History
Louis was made king of the new Kingdom of Holland on 6 June 1806. Like the other Bonapartes, he wanted to add the luster of pomp and knighthood to his reign. Until 1806 the Netherlands had always been a republic and so had no pre-existing system of orders so, on 24 August 1806, Louis wrote to Napoleon (then inAachen
Aachen is the List of cities in North Rhine-Westphalia by population, 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, 27th-largest city of Germany, with around 261,000 inhabitants.
Aachen is locat ...
):
Appointments
* Adipati Soero Adinegoro, appointed ''Ridder'' (Knight) in 1808: a Chinese-Javanese nobleman, government official. * : a Dutch politician and government minister during the reign ofLouis Bonaparte
Louis Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland (a French c ...
as King of Holland
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Order of the Union 1806 establishments in the Netherlands 1811 disestablishments in the Netherlands Union, Order of the Awards established in 1806 Awards disestablished in 1811 Kingdom of Holland Louis Bonaparte