Order of Parfaite Amitié | |
Awarded By: | Prince of Thurn and Taxis |
Type: | Dynastic order |
Motto: | VINCULUM AMICITIAE (Latin for 'Chain of Friendship') |
Status: | Currently constituted |
Head Title: | Head |
Head: | Prince Albert II |
Grades: | Knight/Dame Grand Cross Knight/Dame Grand Officer Knight/Dame Commander Knight/Dame Officer Knight/Dame |
Date: | 1750 National order: 1750 - 1806 House order: 1806 - present |
House: | Thurn und Taxis |
Religion: | Roman Catholic |
Ribbon: | Navy Blue and Maroon with a thin Gold border |
The Order of Parfaite Amitié (German: Orden de Parfaite Amitié; literally meaning the 'Order of Perfect Friendship') is a dynastic order of knighthood of the princely House of Thurn and Taxis.
The order was founded during the reign of Alexander Ferdinand, 3rd Prince of Thurn and Taxis, as the supreme order of the princely house. Karl Anselm, 4th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, then reformed the order and was able to formally transmit it to descendants to this day. With the abolition of the principalities of the Confederation of the Rhine by the acts of 12 July 1806, the order's value became related to the dynasty, and it is to be given to members who have turned 18 years of age.
The order's badge consists of a golden eight-pointed Maltese cross in white enamel. Between the arms of the cross can be seen a tower and an upright lion, the main symbols from the coat of arms of the House of Thurn and Taxis. Upon the arms of the cross are engraved the words VINCULUM AMICITIAE (Latin for 'Chain of Friendship'). In the medallion are the initials (Carl Anselm). On the reverse, there is a blue-enamelled medallion with the letters in gold. Since 1928, the initial (Albert).
Men wear the decoration around their neck with sky-blue band. A copy of the order is in the treasury of the museum at Saint Emmeram's Abbey in Regensburg, Germany.