Military Order of Max Joseph

Individuals who received the order and were not already members of the nobility were ennobled and would add the title of "Ritter von" to their family name. A Bavarian title of nobility obtained through the Military Order of Max Joseph was valid for the recipient's life only. The order became obsolete in 1918 with the collapse of the Bavarian monarchy on Germany's defeat in World War I. However, the order's chancery continued to process outstanding award recommendations to at least 1922.

Recorded constituent parts are Knight of the Military Order of Max Joseph and Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph. It is associated with Kingdom of Bavaria. The record gives 1806 as its date of establishment or first appearance. Activity is recorded as ending in 1922. Its recorded founders are Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.

• Name — Military Order of Max Joseph Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden • Presenter — the Kingdom of Bavaria • Country — Kingdom of Bavaria Bavaria • Type — Military order in three classes • Eligibility — Military officers • Awarded For — Bravery and meritorious leadership in battle • Status — Obsolete • Description — White-enameled Maltese cross with a blue-enameled center medallion. There are rays between the arms of the Grand Cross and Commander's Cross, but not the Knight's Cross. • Established — 1 January 1806 • Higher — House Equestrian Order of Saint George • Lower — Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown • Illustration — Military Max Joseph Order • Illustration — The Grand Cross • Illustration — Star

For recipients of the order who were not already members of the nobility, receipt of the order conferred a patent of nobility. This patent was not inheritable, similar to a knighthood in the United Kingdom. When a recipient was ennobled, his surname name was changed by the addition of the title "Ritter von" ("Knight of"). Thus for example the later Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb was born Wilhelm Leeb. Such a patent of nobility only applied to Bavarian subjects; non-Bavarians could receive the Military Order of Max Joseph but not use a title because of this. Thus for example General Erich Ludendorff remained plain Ludendorff, although he was decorated with the Grand Cross of the order in 1916. Note that not all Bavarian "Ritter von" were knights of the Military Order of Max Joseph. The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown, a high civil honor (but also frequently awarded to military personnel) also conferred a patent of nobility. For example, the 1920s-era Minister President of Bavaria Gustav Ritter von Kahr was a recipient of the Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown rather than the Military Order of Max Joseph. Furthermore, "Ritter von" was also a hereditary title in some noble families and had no connection to these orders.

• Prince Leopold of Bavaria • Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria • Hans Ritter von Adam • Karl Ritter von Bolle • General Sir Colin Campbell • Adolf Ritter von Denk • Nikolaus zu Dohna-Schlodien • Franz Ritter von Epp • Erich von Falkenhayn • Robert Ritter von Greim • Wilhelm Groener • Karl Ritter von Halt • Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild • Paul von Hindenburg • Franz Ritter von Hipper • Prince Heinrich of Bavaria • Franz Ritter von Hörauf • Max Hoffmann • Fritz Ritter von Kraußer • Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein • Hermann von Kuhl • Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb • Erich Ludendorff • August von Mackensen • Mehmed V • Reinhard Scheer • Eugen Ritter von Schobert • Hans von Seeckt • Hans Ritter von Seißer • Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma • Ludwig Ritter von Tutschek • Adolf Ritter von Tutschek • Otto Weddigen

The following is established of the heading itself. It is also recorded that military Order of Max Joseph is associated with Kingdom of Bavaria. It is also recorded that military Order of Max Joseph is recorded from 1806.