Civil Order of Saxony
{{unreferenced|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox Military Award
|name=Civil Order of Saxony
Zivilverdienstorden
|image=Orde van Verdienste van Saksen 1893.jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption=Star and grand cross of the order
|presenter={{flag icon|Kingdom of Saxony}} Kingdom of Saxony
|type=Civil Order of Merit
|eligibility=Saxon civilians
|awarded_for=service to the state for civil virtue
|status=Obsolete
|description=
|established=7 June 1815
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=1918
|image2=100px
|caption2=Ribbon of the order
|higher=Albert Order
|lower=Order of Sidonia
}}
The Civil Order of Saxony, also known as the Saxon Order of Merit, was established on 7 June 1815 by King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. It was a general order of merit for the royal subjects of the Kingdom of Saxony for distinguished civic service and virtue.
Classes of the order
File:Franz Xaver Winterhalter (circle) Prinz Emil von Hessen und bei Rhein.jpg
Upon its founding in 1815, the order was divided into seven classes of merit:
- Knight Grand Cross
- Commander First Class
- Commander Second Class
- Knight
- Small Cross
- Gold Civil Medal
- Silver Civil Medal
With an amendment of 18 March 1858, the Small Cross became the Cross of Honour, eventually becoming Knight Second Class on 31 January 1876. The decree also replaced the gold and silver medals with civilian crosses of distinction, in gold and silver. The classes of the order thus became:
- Knight Grand Cross
- Commander First Class
- Commander Second Class
- Knight First Class
- Knight Second Class
- Golden Civil Cross
- Silver Civil Cross
{{Orders of Imperial Germany}}