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Ordre de la Couronne de Westphalie (Order of the Westphalian Crown)
December 25, 1809 – October 18, 1811
photo Bruno Couwenberg
In 1809, Jérôme created, with the approval of Napoleon and as his brothers had also done, an order in his kingdom.
This honorary sign, very irreverently called “The Menagerie”, consists of a large number of animals. A horse and a crowned lion support a crowned eagle with spread wings. This eagle rests on a flash of lightning carrying the inscription “JE LES UNIS” (I unite them). The whole rests on an embellished scroll. In the vacant space, half an eagle holding a sceptre in its claws and a chimera stand back to back. Their heads are united by a crown. The centre is a coat of arms with the letters HN (Hiéronimus Napoleon). A ring made up of a snake biting its tail, symbol of eternity, supports everything. The scroll sometimes carries the inscription “CHARACTER UND AUFRICHTIGKEIT – ERRICHTET DEN XXV DEZEMBER MDCCCIX” (character and sincerity – created on December 25, 1809) on a dark blue enamel background.
Translation of : Les Ordres Français et les Récompenses Nationales; C. BOURDIER 1977
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