Early Published References To
The Order of Saint Joachim

The Order of Saint Joachim was described in A.M. Perrot's book Historische Sammlung aller Ritterorden der verschiendenen Nationen (A Historical Collection of all Knight Orders of Different Nations) published in Leipzig in 1821. Perrot' s book was an ambitious project to catalogue all the existing Knightly orders of Europe and illustrate their various insignia and regalia.

Perrot not only provided colour drawings of The Order's insignia at the time, he also wrote a brief history of the foundation of The Equestrian, Secular and Chapterial Order of Saint Joachim, the qualifications for membership in The Order, as well as its charitable aims as they existed in 1821.

Below is an actual copy of Perrot's 1821 text (pp. 122-3) in German describing The Order of Saint Joachim (Orden des heiliges Joachim), followed by a modern translation:

Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

Order of St. Joachim

It was founded on the 20th of June, 1755 by fourteen German noblemen, headed by the Duke of Saxe - Coburg - Saalfeld. He was named as the first Grand Master. This charitable foundation has had as its purpose through its Commanderies easing the burden of its less fortunate members in their old age, and providing the means for its more well off members to continue to prosper. There are three classes of the Order: Grand Commanders, Commanders and Knights. It also accepts honourary members.

The head of this Order is the elected Grand Master; whose election takes place in Chapter. In order to be nominated, one must be able to prove his ancestry back four generations; only the French are not subject to this condition, however they must be members of the [French] Legion of Honour.

- 123 -

The Knights solemnly vow to worship the Supreme Being, show tolerance towards all religions, loyalty towards their princes, support the needs of their military, the poor, widows and orphans.

The motto of the Order is: Deo, Principi, Legi - trans. God, Prince and the Law.

Insignia.

The cross shown as no. 8 on plate XXXVII is worn by the Grand Commanders on a wide ribbon, worn from left to right, and the breast cross shown as no. 9 is worn is on the left side. The Commanders wear the cross at the neck and the breast cross is worn on the left side; Knights wear theirs suspended from a buttonhole ribbon.

A green ribbon with silver edges is the decoration of an Honourary Member.

These are the illustrations of the insignia of the Order of St. Joachim provided in Perrot's 1821 book.

Figure 8 (left) shows the neck insignia of Grand Commanders, Commanders and Knights, suspended from a green watered silk ribbon with a knightly helm hanging device. The front shows St. Joachim with his staff, and the reverse displays a green cross.

Figure 9 (below) is the breast cross worn by Grand Commanders and Commanders, with The Order's motto surrounding the centrepiece: DEO PRINCIPI LEGI.