| Order of Saint Michael Orden zum Heiligen Michael |
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|---|---|
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Badge of a knight of the order
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| Awarded by Archbishop of Cologne King of Bavaria |
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| Country |
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| Type |
Military order 1693–1803 Merit order 1808–1918 |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 29 September 1693 |
| Last awarded | 1918 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown |
| Next (lower) | Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art |
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Ribbon of the order |
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The Order of Saint Michael (German: Orden zum Heiligen Michael) or Royal Merit Order of Saint Michael (German: Königlicher Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael) was founded in 1693 by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, as a Military order. Initially, this order was only open to the Catholic nobility.