Visitors to Munich may have the opportunity to pass by the Siegestor (Victory Arch) where Ludwigstraße meets Leopoldstraße during a journey through the city: Overhead view of the Siegestor. What is not evident when viewing the Siegestor however is the connection of the Siegestor to the Military Max Joseph Order.
The Siegestor was designed by architect Friedrich von Gärtner and was built from 1843 to 1852. The Military Max Joseph Order Statutes mention the ceremony in 1843 concerning the laying of the foundation stone of the Siegestor and the interesting “time capsule” enclosed in one of the foundation stones:
Militär-Max-Josephs-Orden, Statuten, Zu Artikel XXVI
Eine besondere Feier für den Orden war die am 12. Oktober 1843 erfolgte Grundsteinlegung zu dem “Siegesthore” in München, zu welcher alle noch in aktiven bayerischen Militär- oder Zivildiensten stehenden, dann die pensionierten oder à la suite befindlichen Mitglieder des Militär-Max-Joseph-Ordens geladen waren.
Über diese Feier selbst sich in den Alten noch nachstehende Schilderung:
“München am 12. Oktober 1843.
Die Grundsteinlegung des Siegesthores, welches Seine Majestät der König Allerhöchst seinem Heere widmet, ging heute in feierlicher Weise vor sich.
Gemäß dem durch das Kriegsministerium bekanntgegebenen Programme versammelten sich die hier anwesenden Ritter des Militär-Max-Joseph-Ordens und die zum Ausrücken der Truppen nicht beorderten kgl. Offiziere in gewöhnlicher Uniform in dem durch eine Planke begrenzten Bauplatze des Siegesthores.
Un 12 Uhr begaben sich Seine Majestät der König, begleitet von Seiner Königlichen Hoheit dem Prinzen Karl von Bayern, und gefolgt von den im Dienste stehenden General- und Flügeladjutanten, sowie von der ganzen hier anwesenden Generalität, dann dem Generalstabe, zu Pferd aus der Residenz durch die Ludwigstraße, wo die ganze Garnison aufgestellt war, nach dem Bauplatze.
Hier angelangt, stiegen Seine Majestät der König das Zeichen zum Anfange der feierlichen Handlung zu geben geruht hatten, überreichte der Architekt Seiner Majestät eine Steinplatte mit dem Grund- und Aufriß, eine Steinplatte mit den Insignien des Militär-Max-Josephs-Ordens (Großkreuz Nr. 38, Kommandeurkreuz Nr. 69 und Ritterkreuz Nr. 438), eine Urkunde, das Bildnis Seiner Majestät des Königs, und verschiedene unter der Regierung Seiner Majestät des Königs Ludwig I. ausgeprägte Münzen.
Allerhöchst dieselben legten diese sämtlichen Gegenstände in den Grundstein, welcher hierauf geschlossen wurde.
Seine Majestät der König empfingen sodann aus der Hand des Architekten den Hammer und die Kelle, führten die herkömmlichen drei Schläge und brachten mit der Kelle den ersten Kalk an den Grunstein. Ebendieselbe Handlung wurde, jedoch ausschließlich nur von den im Militärverbande oder im aktiven Zivildienste stehenden, anwesenden Max-Joseph-Ordens-Rittern vollzogen. Mit dem ersten Hammerschlage Seiner Majestät des Königs begann die Abfeuerung von 50 aufeinanderfolgenden Schüßen aus 12 Pfünder-Kannonen.
Nach Beendigung der Feierlichkeit stiegen Seine Majestät wieder zu Pferd und begaben sich auf den Odeonsplatz, wo Allerhöchst dieselben die Garnison vor sich vorbeimarschieren ließen. Dann kehrten Allerhöchstdieselben mit der nämlichen Begleitung in die kgl. Residenz zurück. Die imposante militärische Feier, welche eine zahlreiche Zuschauermenge angelockt hatte, wurde von der herrlichsten Witterung begünstiget.
Die Worte, welche Seine Königliche Majestät bei dem hieraus gegebenen Gastmahle sprachen, lauteten:
“Bayerns tapferem Heere, das zu jeder Zeit in allen Tagen seinem Landesfürsten unerschütterlich treu war, ihm widme ich das Siegesthor.
Die Trinksprüche aber; der erste:
Dem Andenken des Gründers des Ordens, seinem ersten Großmeister, der uns allen ein liebender Vater war!
Der zweite:
Dem Andenken de Feldmarschalls Fürsten Wrede, dessen Ruhm mit dem des Heeres unzertrennlich ist; dem Andenken des Generals der Infanterie, Grafen Deroy, der, schon ein Greis, den Heldentod starb; und dem Andenken aller verewigten Mitglieder des Ordens!
Der dritte:
Auf das Wohl der leben den Mitglieder des Ordens! Das Bespiel ihrer Tapferkeit feuere das jüngere Geschlecht an!”
The following is a rough translation of the Statute text listed above:
Military-Max-Joseph-Order, Statutes, Article XXVI
A special celebration for the Order that took place on October 12, 1843 was laying of the foundation stone for the “Victory Gate” in Munich, to which were invited all still in active Bavarian military or civil service, then the pensioners or à la suite existing members of the Military Max Joseph Order.
About this celebration itself in the following old narrative:
“Munich on October 12, 1843.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Victory Gate, which His Majesty the King All Highest devotes to his army, today took place in a ceremonial manner.
According to the programs announced by the Ministry of War, the Knights of the Military Max Joseph Order present here and the Royal Officers in ordinary uniform who were not ordered to disengage the troops gathered in the site of the Victory Gate, which was limited by a plank.
At noon, His Majesty the King, accompanied by His Royal Highness, went to Prince Karl of Bavaria, followed by the General and Adjutant Auxiliaries serving in the service, as well as the whole of the generals present here, then the General Staff, on horseback from the Residenz through Ludwigstrasse, where the whole garrison was situated, to the building site.
Having arrived here, His Majesty the King rose and was pleased to give the signal to begin the ceremonial activity, the architect gave His Majesty a stone slab with the plan and elevation, a stone slab with the insignia of the Military Max Joseph Order (Grand Cross No. 38, Commander’s Cross No. 69 and Knight’s Cross No. 438), a document, the portrait of His Majesty the King, and various under the government of His Majesty King Ludwig I minted coins.
The All Highest himself laid all of the items in the foundation stone, which was then closed.
His Majesty the King then received from the hand of the architect the hammer and the trowel, carried out the conventional three blows and brought with the trowel the first lime to the foundation stone. The same action was completed, however only by attending Max Joseph Order Knights in military associations or in active civil service. With the first hammer blow His Majesty the King began the firing of 50 consecutive shots from 12-pounder cannons.
After the completion of the ceremony, His Majesty mounted his horse again and went to Odeonsplatz, where the All Highest allowed the garrison to march past. Then the All Highest returned with the same escort back to the Royal Residenz. The imposing military celebration, which had attracted a large number of spectators, was favored by the most glorious weather.
The words which His Royal Majesty spoke at the banquet given here were as follows:
“Bavaria’s brave armies, which at all times in all days were steadfastly loyal to their Sovereign, to them I dedicate the Victory Gate.
The toasts, however; the first:
To the memory of the founder of the Order, its’ first Grand Master, who was a loving Father to all of us!
The second:
To the memory of Field Marshal Prince Wrede, whose fame is inseparable from that of the army; the memory of the General of the Infantry, Count Deroy, who, already an old man, died a hero’s death; and the memory of all the immortalized members of the Order!
The third:
To the health of the living members of the Order! The example of their bravery encourages the younger generation.”
The Siegestor was heavily damaged by aerial bombing at the end of World War 2 and was then partially restored in 1958.
I wonder if the original foundation stone which contained the Military Max Joseph Orders is still there after over 175 years. If it is still there, does it still contain the Military Max Joseph Orders?
Thank you for your interest regarding this article.
Comments are welcome.
– Lorin
Literature:
Schrettinger, Baptist. Der Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden und seine Mitglieder. München, 1882.
For more information regarding the Siegestor:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegestor
For more information regarding architect Friedrich von Gärtner:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_von_G%C3%A4rtner
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Servus Lorin,
a fact known only to a few collectors, which you describe here again. I’ve already asked myself that question. If this cornerstone was not damaged in the bombing, then one can assume that the medals are still present. Nobody knew more about the Order after 100 years. Nice that such interesting topics and questions are taken up by you from the USA. In Bavaria, such interesting facts are unfortunately no longer thought. Thanks a lot for this.
many Greetings
Walter
The numbers of the decorations are:
Grand Cross Nr.38 (only grand insignia), never awarded before
Commanders Cross Nr. 69, never awarded before
Knights Cross Nr. 438, previously worn by the Austrian premier Lieutenant Jowureck
Regards
Harald
Hello Harald,
Thank you very much for the information regarding the history of the MMJO pieces that were
placed in the cornerstone of the Siegestor. It is interesting to think that they
may still be there after all of these years.
With friendly greetings from the USA,
Lorin