Germany - Imperial States - Kingdom of Bavaria: Military Merit Order of Saint Michael, 4th Class Cross with Swords for a Wartime Award (1905-1918 issue), silver, gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension is silver marked ‘900’ and bears the medallists initials ‘GH’ for Gebruder Hemmerle of Munchen (Munich), ring not stamped, and with correct but newer length of ribbon.
Condition: enamel work good, attractively toned, light evidence of wear, overall Good Very Fine or better.
The Bavarian Military Merit Order (German: Militär-Verdienstorden) was established on 19th July 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was the kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration. The Military Merit Order ranked below the Military Order of Max Joseph (Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden), which was Bavaria's highest military honour for officers (and conferred a patent of non-hereditary nobility on officers who were not already nobles).
The order could be awarded with or without swords (which generally indicated wartime or combat awards). The Grand Cross and 1st Class always came with a breast star, but the 2nd Class could be awarded with or without the breast star. The 3rd and 4th Classes could be awarded with or without a crown. Generally, these distinctions were based on rank, but in certain cases were used to permit a second award for further acts of bravery or military merit.
