Order of the Bear
Below is an extract from an Australian newspaper. My husband’s 2x g grandfather apparently had received the Order of the Bear in Germany which then passed down to his son upon his death. His son Edmund Itzig Julius Elkan lived in Australia. I would like to know more about this honour and if indeed Julius was a recipient of it. I believe his son Edmund was rather a rogue so could have fabricated the story believing that the people in Australia would never find out it was a lie, if indeed it is. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks in anticipation.
Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA: 1869 - 1912) / Mon 25 Jul 1898 / Page 2 / Family Notice:
ELKAN.
-On the 22nd June, at Dessau, Germany, Sir Julius Elkan, Privy Councilior, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bear, &c., in his 78th year.
Commenti
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Could be this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Albert_the_Bear
Dessau lies in the area of Anhalt (former Principality of Anhalt-Dessau) whose ruler founded the order.
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Thanks for your time in replying. I’ve looked at the info you suggest in the past and my forebear’s name is not listed among the recipients. I’ve also emailed a contact who is listed in the reference section but the email address is invalid so I am no further forward. I am really looking for an authority on the Order of the. bear who would categorically say whether Sir Julius Elkan really was a ‘Sir’. with the Order having been granted. I believe it was a fabrication and glorification on the part of his son Edmund who as I said appears to be somewhat of a shyster but I’d like more evidence to consider before applying this label!!! Edmund makes reference to his Father being a Sir on numerous occasions when speaking to the newspapaers and appears himself to have been a man of some substance. There is a report in one paper where Edmund travels as a trade delegation from Australia to Europe which I again think is suspect and a report that he could well have written and submitted himself. Edmund also took over the title of ‘Sir’ which I don’t think he’d be entitled to do but again I’d like to find out. I thank you again for your suggestion and time and any further help will be appreciated.
Regards Nicola
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Hello Nicola,
The title "Sir" does not exist in Germany. Generally speaking, the bestowal of an order is not the same as an elevation to the nobility, which would lead to the conferment of a title. So the use of the English title or salutation "Sir" is certainly an unjustified presumption. Also, an order is a personal distinction and is not hereditary.
If Julius Elkan really received the Order of the Bear can probably no longer be determined unambiguously. The German Wikipedia article about the order says: "Exact numbers of bestowals cannot be determined due to the incomplete files." (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausorden_Albrechts_des_B%C3%A4ren)
The list of recipients in the English Wikipedia is certainly not complete.
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