A GOLD AND ENAMEL ORDER OF THE WHITE EAGLE

The Order of the White Eagle was among the most important orders of the Russian Empire, following the Orders of St Alexander Nevsky and St Vladimir in order of precedence. The order originated in Poland and is one of Europe's oldest knighthoods. After the partitioning of Poland at the end of the eighteenth century, it was adopted by the Russian empire. Emperor Alexander I began bestowing the order upon his Polish subjects and, in 1831, Emperor Nicholas I officially incorporated it into the hierarchy of awards of the Russian Empire as the Imperial and Royal Order of the White Eagle. The insignia was modified and the original Red Cross and Polish White Eagle were superimposed on the crowned Russian Imperial double-headed eagle.