Louis BONAPARTE, (1778-1846), - Lot 279

Lot n° 279
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Estimation :
6000 - 8000 EUR
Louis BONAPARTE, (1778-1846), - Lot 279
Louis BONAPARTE, (1778-1846), King of Holland (1806-1810). Order of Fidelity of the Grand Duchy of Baden, founded in 1715. Rare grand-cross plaque belonging to King Louis BONAPARTE, brother of Emperor Napoleon I, King of Holland. Eight-branched order plaque, embroidered with silver thread, foil and sequins, surmounted by the center in high relief, with silk background, overlaid with the cross of the order in red foil, edged with sequins and the double interlaced "CC" (initials of founder Charles III), with the inscription "Fidelitas", framed in silver thread. Lined with bi paper on the reverse, with two metal hooks sewn to the upper and lower arms. T.B. (traces of use, wear to the tips and a few slight chips). Size: 90 x 83 mm. Gross weight: 19.7 g. Bearing the aluminum pastille from the collections of Prince Victor NAPOLEON stamped "1889". NB: the Order of Fidelity of Baden was the most important of the Orders of Chivalry of the Grand Duchy of Baden. Provenance : -King Louis BONAPARTE - Probably Emperor NAPOLEON III and Empress EUGENIE -Collection Prince Victor NAPOLEON n°1889 -Prince Louis NAPOLEON Collection - Charles BONAPARTE, Princess Catherine NAPOLEON and Princess Laure NAPOLEON -Acquired by Countess Viviane de WITT. History: After the Golden Fleece, received in June 1805, the Order of Fidelity is only the second foreign order awarded to Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland since March 1806. Founded in 1715 by Margrave Charles Guillaume de Bade-Durlach, the Order of Fidelity was renewed in 1803 when his grandson and successor, Charles Frédéric de Bade, obtained the dignity of Elector. Definitely rallying to France after Austerlitz, the Margrave was elevated by Napoleon to the rank of Grand Duke in July 1806, shortly after his son Charles had married Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Napoleon's adopted daughter. Numerous French dignitaries received the Order of Fidelity at the start of the Empire. The Emperor himself was decorated in January 1806. King Louis received the order on November 11, 1807, along with three other cords, which he awarded to his son Napoléon-Louis, to Count Dumonceau, Marshal of Holland, and to Baron Lodewijk van Heeckeren (1768-1831), his Captain of the Hunt. According to the typed inventory book of the Prince Victor Napoleon collection, n°1889 is described as follows: Plaque de l'Ordre de la FIDELITE de BADE, in sequins Biography: LE ROI LOUIS BONAPARTE (1778-1846) Louis Bonaparte, younger brother of Napoleon I, distinguished himself in the army, rising in a short space of time from aide-de-camp to captain and then brigadier general. In 1802, he married Hortense de Beauharnais, Josephine's daughter, and four years later became King of Holland. He abdicated in 1810 and lived in exile as Comte de Saint-Leu. He was the father of the future Napoleon III. When the Empire was established, Louis became Grand Constable of France. He was promoted to Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor in 1805. Temporary import The buyer is required to pay import duties of 5.5% in addition to the hammer price, unless the item is immediately re-exported outside the European Union. Work in temporary import The buyer will have to pay import fees of 5.5% in addition to the hammer price, unless the buyer immediately re-exports the lot outside the European Union.
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