The Kingdom of Bavaria
represented by the building (1) |
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The Bavarian kingdom is embodied in
the imposing hemispherical dome supported by four massive pillars each
representing one of the four Bavarian tribes.
This is conveyed even
more strongly by coats of arms in stone relief on the upper part of these
massive sloping corner piers of the domed hall which are in the following order: BAVARIA: South-east,
as requested by Ludwig I, the historic Lion rampant double queued, crowned of
the Palatinate county of Veldenz. FRANCONIA: South-west, Per fess dancetty
of the prince-bishops of Würzburg. SWABIA: North-west, the
Habsburg-Swabian arms of the county of Burgau Bendy sinister of six, a Pale. COUNTY
PALATINATE ON THE RHINE: North-east, a Lion rampant, crowned. |
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It is quite conceivable that
Mellinger was also inspired to depict the kingdom in this particular way during
his travels in Italy where there were examples of early Christian ciboria whose
hemispherical form representing heaven was supported by four pillars based on a
rectangular block symbolising the earth. |
(14) Royal Arms of Bavaria* |
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Above the well preserved group of
arms there are relief-style constructions. At one time individual square stone
blocks stood here with figures in relief representing the Bavarian orders
incorporating symbols linked with Bavarian history and the concept of the state. |
The ORDER OF St. HUBERT founded in
1444 was situated above the Bavarian coat of arms. The statutes of this most
eminent Bavarian order clearly set out the principles underlying such secular
orders: noble birth, close ties with the sovereign and service to the ruling
dynasty.
The ORDER OF MERIT OF St. MICHAEL founded in 1693 was situated
above the arms of the County Palatinate on the Rhine and was only conferred on a
select circle of aristocratic Catholics and its aims were strongly religious.
The four cardinal virtues of this Order were piety, constancy, strength and
fidelity.
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Above the arms of Franconia there
was the symbol of the Bavarian ROYAL HOUSEHOLD ORDER OF St. GEORG. The statutes
of this Order which was established in 1729 and whose membership was exclusively
restricted to the Catholic nobility, stipulated religious obligations and the
propagation of the Catholic faith as the fundamental aims of the Order.
The
MILITARY ORDER OF MAX JOSEPH founded in 1806 was once situated over the arms of
Swabia. It was the first military decoration of the new kingdom of Bavaria. True
to the spirit of the times, this order of chivalry no longer had a saint as its
patron.
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(15) Order of St. Hubert
founded 1444 * |
(16) Order of Merit of St. Michael
founded 1693 *
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(17) Royal Household Order of St.
Georg founded 1729 * |
(18) Military Order of Max-Joseph
founded 1806* |
Carl de Bouche integrated the arms
of the Knights of the Max Joseph Order depicted in coloured glass into the seven
big windows of the main hall with the staircase. A large part of this glass
painting is still on view in the Army Museum in Ingolstadt.
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