The Prussian Order of the Black Eagle was created on January 17, 1701, by Elector Fredrik III. Of Brandenburg as a house order. The order was awarded to nobility only in it’s beginning. Only in 1847 so-called capitular knights were entered into the order while being raised into nobility. The order had one class only but could be awarded with chain by the king. The recipient automatically wore the highest class of the red eagle order as neck decoration.