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In the redistribution of the heritage of the younger branch of the House of Wettin Ernestine line - after the extinction of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg - was the "Ernestine" on 25 December 1833 by the Dukes Friedrich von Sachsen-Altenburg, Ernst I of Saxony -Coburg and Gotha and Bernhard II. Erich friend of Saxe-Meiningen and Hildburghausen donated. The Order served primarily as a House Order for male members of the three Ernestine lines, but was also awarded for civilian and military merit.
The Foundation comes to the Order of German honesty back of 1690 in memory of the Duke Ernst the Pious (* 1601, † 1675), was donated by the Duke of Altenburg.
The Order originally had four classes:
Grand Cross (maximum 9 owner, real privy councilors or this rank, Prince of three houses (after completion of 18 years of age) not counting - Friedrich Trinks
Commander First Class (more than 12 owners, bureaucrats or ministers)
Commander II. Class (maximum of 18 holders, with the rank of President, Supreme or lieutenant colonel)
Ritter (more than 36 owners)
Each of the three courtyards gave a third of the medals in each class, and was obliged to inform the ceremonies the other courts. The number of awards to foreigners was unlimited, at least two of the farms had to agree, however. Around 1890 they also created the 5th grade, the Knights II. Class.
After 1850, the Order was a war decoration expanded: the swords on the ring (crossed golden swords under the crown of the suspension) and swords to cross (golden swords between the arms of the cross and to the Order under the star medallion). Military received the Medal with a laurel wreath instead of the oak wreath above.
In 1866 we also created a Silver Cross of Merit of the Order, which has been renewed several times (1870, 1890 and 1914) and was intended for lower officials and military personnel. However, it has the general form is, without crown, without the lion ornaments between his arms, without balls on the tips and unemailliert. Also this cross was awarded with swords (only between the arms)
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