Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art

Bayerischer Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst

The Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (German: Bayerischer Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst) was first established on 28 November 1853 by King Maximilian II. von Bayern. It is awarded to acknowledge and reward excellent and outstanding achievements in the field of science and art. From 1933 onwards (with the beginning of the Nazi regime) the order was not longer rewarded. In 1980 it was reinstated by the then Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria Franz Josef Strauß.

Since 1980 the order was awarded to 184 recipients including 24 woman. The number of living members of the order shall not exceed 100. In February 2013 there were 92 living members of the order.

Until 1932 the order was issued 351 times. Overall the order was awarded to 535 people from 1853 to 2012.

Preamble

In continuiation of a bavarian tradition the Bavarian Maximialian Order for Art and Sciences is created. It is awarded to reward outstanding achievements in the field of science and art. (In Fortsetzung alter bayerischer Tradition wird der Bayerische Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst geschaffen. Mit ihm sollen herausragende Leistungen auf dem Gebieten von Wissenschaft und Kunst ausgezeichnet werden.)

Criteria

The Maximilian Order is preferable awarded to German scientist and artist. It is not restricted to citizens of Bavaria. The order was instituted in one class and two sections (science and art). The order is restricted to 100 living members.

Nomination procedure

The Minister-President, the minister of state for their respective portfolio and the two sections of the order are eligible to nominate new members. These proposals are evaluated by an advisory committee (Ordensbeirat). It gives its recommendation to the Minister-President for final decision.

The advisory committee consists of:

• the President of the Landtag of Bavaria,
• the member of the government who is deputy of the Minister-President,
• the State Minister of Sciences, Research and the Arts,
• the President of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities,
• the President of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts,
• the President of one of the Bavarian Art Colleges (Kunsthochschulen),
• the President of one of the Bavarian Universities and
• a representative of the applied sciences, who is named by the Minister-President.

All members of the advisory committee are selected for a period of five years. The committee decides with the majority of its members.

Members of the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art

• see article: Members of the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art

Literature

• Georg Schreiber Die Bayerischen Orden und Ehrenzeichen, Prestel-Verlag, München 1964
• Hans Körner "Der Bayerische Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst und seine Mitglieder" in: Zeitschrift für Bayerische Landesgeschichte, Bd. 47 (1984), S. 299-398. Online: http://periodika.digitale-sammlungen.de/zblg/kapitel/zblg47_kap28; as book: Bd. 2 der "Hefte zur Bayerischen Landesgeschichte", publ. by the Kommission für bayerische Landesgeschichte bei der Akademie der Wissenschaften. IX, 116 p. w. 11 pict. München 2001 (ISBN 3-7696-9700-6).

External links

• www.ordenmuseum.de: Der Bayerische Verdienstorden und Bayerischen Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst (German)
• The law
• Information of the Bavarian State Chancellery (German)