Knight's Cross (German language Ritterkreuz) refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
Most frequently the term Knight's Cross is used in conjunction with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of the Third Reich. However, numerous orders have a Knight's Cross grade. Examples include the Cross of Merit on the ribbon of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur, a grade of the War Merit Cross, the Knight's Cross of the Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Knights' Order of the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem, the Knight's Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph, the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, 1st class (Knight) of the Order of the Sun, and the Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern.
Famous quotes containing the words knight and/or cross:
“The Knight of the Doleful Countenance.”
—Miguel De Cervantes (1547–1616)
“Passion is here a soilure of the wits,
We’re told, and Love a cross for them to bear;
Joy shivers in the corner where she knits
And Conscience always has the rocking-chair,
Cheerful as when she tortured into fits
The first cat that was ever killed by Care.”
—Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869–1935)