Order of Louise

Order of Louise Luisen-Orden
Insignia of the Order (1st Class)
Awarded by Head of the House of Prussia
Type	State Order (formerly) House Order (currently)
Established	3 August 1814
Royal house	House of Prussia
Ribbon	White with black stripes
Sovereign	Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia
Grand Mistress	Sophie, Princess of Prussia
Grades	Dame, Special Class Dame, 1st Class Dame, 2nd Class
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint John
Next (lower)	Wilhelm-Orden
Ribbons of the order

The Order of Louise (German: Luisen-Orden) was founded on 3 August 1814 by Frederick William III of Prussia to honor his late wife, the much beloved Queen Louise (née Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie, Herzogin zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz). This order was chivalric in nature, but was intended strictly for women whose service to Prussia was worthy of such high national recognition.^[1] Its dame companion members were limited to 100 in number, and were intended to be drawn from all classes.

Though the Prussian king was technically the "Sovereign of the Orders" of the realm, the Chief of the Order of Louise was the reigning queen. Daughters in the royal family were invested with this order in lieu of the Order of the Black Eagle, Order of the Red Eagle Grand Cross, Prussian Crown Order First Class, and Royal House Order of Hohenzollern that were reserved for the sons.

The Order of Louise was renewed with each successive monarch. It was issued from its founding in 1814 (during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm III) and renewed in 1850 (during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm IV), in 1865 (during the reign of Wilhelm I), and in 1890 (during the reign of Wilhelm II).