The Order of Queen Caroline Mathilde was instituted by the Queen in 1771 on the King's birthday (January 29th). It had only a short life, as it was obsoleted on the 17th of January 1772 when the Queen was exiled.
The order could be awarded to both men and women, but the no. of members could never exceed 24. Holders of the order instituted by the previous queen - the
Order of Fidelity - had to return this order if they were awarded the Order of Mathilde.
At the time of institution of the order, the following persons were awarded:
- King Christian VII
- Queen Caroline Mathilde
- Dowager Queen Juliane Marie
- Prince Frederik
- Baroness von Schimmelmann
- Mrs. General von Gähler
- Countess Holstein of Holsteinsborg
- Lt.Gen. Carl Schach
- Minister Adolph Siegfried Count von der Osten
- Lt.Gen. Peter Elias von Gähler
- Chamberlain von Brandt
- Minister Struense
No other documented bestowals are known.
The presumed appearance
of the badge
The badge of the order
No surviving badges of the order are known to exist, so the description is based on paintings and descriptions from the period.
The badge is a crowned 'M' in an oval ring. Both crown, monogram and ring are set with diamonds. Around the ring is a laurel wreath set with pearls. The ribbon is red with silver stripes.
Men wear the order around the neck ("en sautoir"), while women wear the badge from a bow on the chest.
The only two preserved copies of the statutes of the order reside in the National Archives ("Rigsarkivet").
Sources:
Grandjean, H.F "De Kongelige Danske Ridderordener" (1903)
Stevnsborg, Lars "Kongeriget Danmarks Ordener, Medaljer og Hæderstegn" (2005)
Andersen, Carl "Rosenborg - Mindeblade fra De Danske Kongers Kronologiske Samling" (1867)