The order of the Rose
was founded by the Emperor Dom Pedro I. on October 17,
1829, on occasion of his second marriage to Amalie
Princess of Leuchtenberg. Dom Pedro I. who was besides
his epileptic seizures a tough character and had several
mistresses. This may be the reason why his first wife,
Leopoldine of Austria, deceased rather young, not even
30 years old, in 1826. They had five children together,
among them Maria Gloria, later Queen of Spain, and Dom
Pedro, who would be Dom Pedro I. successor, called Dom
Pedro II.
After the death of Leopoldine of
Austria, Dom Pedro I. went to Europe looking for a new
wife. Due to his history and the influence of the
Austrian chancellor Count Metternich a proper woman
couldn't be obtained. Therefore his mistress, at this
time still living at the Brazilian Court, was send away
and negotiation with the Bavarian court Pedro got
engaged to Amalie von Leuchtenberg, a daughter of the
former Vice King of Italy, Eugen de Beauharnais. He was
made the Duke of Leuchtenberg by his father in law King
Maximilian von Bayern.
Two days after the engagement,
October 17, 1829, the Order of the Rose was founded.
Some say the order was founded due to Pedro saying:
"...beautiful as a rose", looking at Amalie. The other
theory was the fact that Amalie liked the Rose's very
much and he surprised her giving her a diamond set grand
cross badge upon her arrival in Brazil. The last version
should be the correct one.
Fact is the precise planning of
this order, proven by countless design drawings. The
bear dates on them starting 4 weeks before she arrived
in Brazil.
avers cavaleiro cross
reverse cavaleiro cross
The order was awarded in 6
different grades.
On April 6, 1831, Dom Pedro went
into exile with his daughter Maria Gloria and his wife
to Spain and gave his power to his underage son Dom
Pedro, now Dom Pedro II. The 5 year old was substituted
by a council until he turned 15 July 15, 1840. During
1831 and 1840 no order was awarded. Afterwards the order
was awarded quite often, since Pedro had a strong
connection to his mother. Therefore the Order of the
Rose became the most important in Brazil. In addition to
this the order was even more popular then the classical
Brazilian orders, as the order of the Southern Cross,
due to its pretty designs. The Grand Duke of Russia, how
was listed for the Grand Cross of the higher Order of
The Southern Cross, during a visit of Dom Pedro II. in
Russia asked the Emperor of Brazil for the Order of the
Rose after being given his Grand Cross set. Being asked
for the reason, he answered that the Rose Order had the
more elegant design. Needless to say, that he was given
both orders.
After the revolution in 1889 the
emperor of Brazil left his country. He diseased in Paris
December 5, 1891.
The order of the Rose is still a
very attractive decoration and quite rare. Looking at
the number of awards it is quite clear, that certain
classes are pretty difficult to obtain:
limits due to statues
total number of bestowals
Pedro I
(1829-1831)
Pedro II
(1841-1889
Grão
Cruz
7
157
efetivo
8
honorario
8
Grande Dignitario
16
11
73
Dignitario
32
11
288
Commendador
unlimited
27
1572
Oficial
unlimited
14
4118
Cavaleiro
unlimited
119
8937
The Grão
Cruz efetivo was worn with a collar of 54.5 cm length.
There are a number of different manufactures for this
order. The main manufacture was Kretly in Paris and
Wolfers in Brussels. This made it difficult to determine
the sizes of the different badges of the order. Mr. G.
Tammann came up with the following measurements in [mm]:
badge
star
ribbon
height x width
point to point
diameter
height x width
point to point
diameter
width
Grão
Cruz
101 (sash)
efetivo
112x64
73 + crown
90x76
76 + crown
honorario
112x64
73 + crown
90x76
76 + crown
Grande Dignitario
89x52
59 + crown
85x72
72 + crown
60 (neck ribbon)
since 1856 101 (sash)
Dignitario
55x50
55
72x72
72
60
Commendador
70x41
46 + crown
70x53
74x54
53 + crown
54 + crown
60 (neck ribbon)
Oficial
43x43
43
53x53
63x63
53
63
35 (brest ribbon)
60 (neck ribbon)
Cavaleiro
49x31
55x38
31 + crown
38 + crown
no star
35 (breast ribbon)
Compared to other decorations during
this time frame , the order of the rose was of rather
small diameter. The picture of the Bavarian officer
Maximilian Freiherr von Speidel showing a Commendador
decoration looks in comparison to his German decorations
he is wearing on his medal bar equal in size:
Other
manufactures are:
da
Costa, Lisbon
Lemaitre, Paris
Resse,
Rio de Janeiro
Rothe
Vienna
Unfortunately there is no way of making the
differentiation between the decorations awarded under
Dom Pedro I. and Dom Pedro II. Even though the crown was
different, the change was not shown in the design of the
decoration. The only reliable basis is the French
control mark law. French made pieces made during the
regency of Dom Pedro I. show sometimes a ram (belier)
mark if in gold and the hare (lievre) mark if in silver
(gilt). During Pedro II's period the corresponding
French marks are the eagle (aigle) and the boar (sanglier).
The following pictures show a Grand
Dignitario Set made during the 2nd period under Dom
Pedro II. The cross is marked with the eagle punch mark
for golden pieces.
