The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown (German: Verdienstorden der Bayerischen Krone) was an order of merit of the Kingdom of Bavaria established by King Maximilian Joseph I on 19 March 1808.

Both the orders brought non-noble recipients in the collection of personal nobility with the title "Ritter von".

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian crown was initially founded with three grades Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight.

Initially membership in the order was limited to 12 Grand Crosses, 24 Commanders and 100 Knights.

The statutes were further modified in 1855 for the addition of the Grand Commander grade, also limited in numbers.