Military Order of Max Joseph

Military Order of Max Joseph Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden
Badge and breast star of the order
Type	Military order in three classes
Awarded for	Bravery and meritorious leadership in battle
Description	White-enameled Maltese cross with a blue-enameled center medallion. There are rays between the arms of the Grand Cross and Commander's Cross, but not the Knight's Cross.
Country	Bavaria
Presented by	the Kingdom of Bavaria
Eligibility	Military officers
Status	Obsolete
Established	1 January 1806
Precedence
Next (higher)	House Equestrian Order of Saint George
Next (lower)	Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown

The Military Order of Max Joseph (German: Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden) was the highest military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria. The order came in three classes:

• Grand Cross (Großkreuz)
• Commander's Cross (Kommandeurkreuz)
• Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz).

Individuals who received the order and were not already members of the nobility were ennobled and would add the title of "Ritter von" to their family name. A Bavarian title of nobility obtained through the Military Order of Max Joseph was valid for the recipient's life only.

The order became obsolete in 1918 with the collapse of the Bavarian monarchy on Germany's defeat in World War I. However, the orders chancery continued to process outstanding award recommendations to at least 1922.