The order was founded by
Ludwig I, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine as an order of merit without name or statute on 25 August 1807. On 14 December 1831, under the auspices of
Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, statutes were adopted for the order, giving it its formal name, that of the Ludwig Order, dividing it into five classes, and setting the terms for award. It was to be awarded to meritorious soldiers and civilians "von den obersten Stufe bis auf die unterste" (from the highest level to the lowest). The statutes were supplemented on 9 March 1854 and again on 30 March 1912, when the grade of Knight's Cross 1st class was replaced with a pinback breast decoration dubbed the Honour Cross. Whilst the grade of Knight's Cross 2nd class was simplified to just Knight's Cross. The order became obsolete with the abdication of the last Grand Duke of Hesse in November 1918. == Classes ==