See index to MAMMALLIA.

The Order of the Elephant in Denmark is an order of knighthood of the first distinction. Its origin has been referred to the time of Canute IV., who is said to have instituted the order in commemoration of one of the Danish crusaders having killed an elephant during an expedition against the Saracens in 1189. That the elephant was adopted at that remote period as an heraldic emblem seems probable; but it would appear that properly this order does not date further back than the year 1478, when it was instituted by Christian I. on the marriage of his son with a princess of Saxony. The decoration—which is attached either to a collar of gold, or to a watered blue ribbon—consists of a white enamelled elephant bearing a black tower. The cavaliers of this order have also a silver star of eight rays embroidered on a mantle of crimson velvet.