Order of the Starry Cross

• Title — Order of the Starry Cross • Caption2 — Ribbon of the order • Awarded By — the Head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine • Type — Order of chivalry for women • For — Devotion to the service and worship of the Holy Cross

The Order was founded in 1668 by Eleonora Gonzaga of Mantua, dowager empress of the Holy Roman Empire. This all-female order was confirmed by Pope Clement IX on 28 June 1668 and was placed under the spiritual management of the Prince-Bishop of Vienna. Only high-born ladies could be invested with the Order, including “princesses, countesses, and other high nobility.” Once invested, members were to “devote themselves to the service and worship of the Holy Cross, and to lead a virtuous life in the exercise of religion and works of charity.” According to legend, the Habsburg dynasty owned a piece of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Though it is impossible to prove its authenticity, the holy relic was set in gold and worn by at least two Holy Roman Emperors, Maximilian II and Ferdinand III. Ferdinand III’s last consort, Empress Eleanora, was given the relic by her stepson, Emperor Leopold I, after Ferdinand’s 1657 death. In the aftermath of a fire at the Hofburg on 2 February 1668 the relic was discovered in near-perfect condition. The dowager empress founded the Order in celebration that the relic had survived the fire, believing it to be a true miracle. In 1881, Empress Elisabeth accorded multiple noble ladies of the royal Belgian court the Starry Cross, after the engagement of Archduke Rudolf. Members of the Order wore the following insignia: "An oval medallion, with a broad blue enameled border, inclosing a black enameled Eagle with two heads, and claws, both of gold, on which lies a Gold Cross, enameled green, and bordered with brown wood. Over this, on an intwined (sic) wreath in black letters, on a white ground, is the motto of the Order, "Salus et Gloria” – (Hail and Glory.) It is worn, pendent to a strip of black riband (sic), on the left breast." The order was conceived with only one class.

• Period — Name — Remarks • 1. — 1668–1686 — Eleanor, Dowager Holy Roman Empress — born Princess Eleonora Gonzaga • 2. — 1686–1720 — Eleanora Magdalena Theresia, Holy Roman Empress — born Princess Eleonora Magdalena Theresia of Neuburg • 3. — 1720–1742 — Wilhelmina Amalia, Holy Roman Empress — born Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg • 4. — 1742–1750 — Elisabeth Christina, Holy Roman Empress — born Princess Elisabeth Christina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel • 5. — 1750–1780 — Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress and reigning Queen of Hungary and Bohemia • 6. — 1780–1792 — Maria Ludovika, Holy Roman Empress — born Infanta María Luisa of Spain • 7. — 1792–1807 — Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress — born Princess Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies • 8. — 1807–1816 — Empress Maria Ludovika of Austria — born Archduchess Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este • 9. — 1816–1835 — Empress Caroline Augusta of Austria — born Princess Caroline Augusta of Bavaria • 10. — 1835–1848 — Empress Maria Anna of Austria — born Princess Maria Anna of Savoy • 11. — 1848–1854 — Archduchess Sophie of Austria — born Princess Sophie of Bavaria • 12. — 1854–1898 — Empress Elisabeth of Austria — born Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria • 13. — 1898–1916 — Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria — born Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony • 14. — 1916–1951 — Empress Zita of Austria — born Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma • 15. — 1951–2007 — Regina, Crown Princess of Austria — born Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen • 16. — 2007–present — Archduchess Gabriela of Austria — current High Protectress

According to the website of the Archdiocese of Vienna, the officers of the Order are: • High Protectress: Archduchess Gabriela of Austria • Chancellor: Count Norbert von Salburg-Falkenstein • Secretary: Altgraf Niklas zu Salm-Reifferscheid-Raitz