Order of the Crown of Italy

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Order of the Crown of Italy
Italian Kruunuritarikunnan rintatähti.png
Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Crown
Awarded by  Italy
Type Order of knighthood
Eligibility Civilian and military divisions
Awarded for Meritorious service or achievement
Status In abeyance
Statistics
Established 20 February 1868
Last awarded 18 March 1983
Precedence
Next (higher) Civil Order of Savoy
Next (lower) Order of Merit for Labour

The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861.[1] It was awarded in five degrees for civilian and military merit.

Compared with the older Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1572), the Order of the Crown of Italy was awarded more liberally and could be conferred on non-Catholics as well; eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of the Crown of Italy in at least the same degree before receiving the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.

The order has been suppressed by law since the foundation of the Republic in 1946. However, Umberto II did not abdicate his position as fons honorum and it remained under his Grand Mastership as a dynastic order. While the continued use of those decorations conferred prior to 1951 is permitted in Italy, the crowns on the ribbons issued before 1946 must be substituted for as many five pointed stars on military uniforms.[2]

Order of Merit of Savoy

Following the demise of the last reigning monarch in 1983, the order, founded by the first, is no longer bestowed. It was replaced by the Order of Merit of Savoy instituted by his heir, the current head of the former Royal House, in 1988. While the Ordine al merito d'Savoia has never been a national order, it is subsidiary to the Civil Order of Savoy which was.[3] The Order of Merit has around 2,000 members and, as with the Order of the Crown of Italy previously, it is entrusted to the Chancellor of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.

Grades

The various degrees of the order, with corresponding ribbons, were as follows:

Ribbon Class (English) Full title in Italian Manner of wear
Cavaliere di Gran Croce OCI Kingdom BAR.svg 1st Class / Knight Grand Cross Cavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia Badge on sash on right shoulder, plus star on left chest
Grande ufficiale OCI Kingdom BAR.svg 2nd Class / Grand Officer Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia Star on left chest
Commendatore OCI Kingdom BAR.svg 3rd Class / Commander Commendatore dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia Badge on necklet
80px 4th Class / Officer Ufficiale dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia Badge on ribbon with rosette on left chest
Cavaliere OCI BAR.svg 5th Class / Knight Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia Badge on ribbon on left chest

Insignia

Divisa.Ord.Coronad'Italia.png
Medaglie
Order Crown of Italy officer medal.jpg
Order of the Crown of Italy - Fram Museum.jpg
Order of the Crown of Italy.jpg
Italian Kruunuritarikunnan rintatähti.png
Regno d'Italia
Cavaliere OCI BAR.svg
Knight
Officer
Commendatore OCI Kingdom BAR.svg
Commander
Grande ufficiale OCI Kingdom BAR.svg
Grand Officer
Cavaliere di Gran Croce OCI Kingdom BAR.svg
Knight Grand Cross
Repubblica Italiana e Casa Savoia
Cavaliere OCI BAR.svg
Knight
Ufficiale OCI BAR.svg
Officer
Commendatore OCI BAR.svg
Commander
Grande ufficiale OCI BAR.svg
Grand Officer
Gran croce OCI BAR.svg
Knight Grand Cross
  • The badge of the order was a gilt cross with curved edges, enamelled in white, with the so-called Savoy knots between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc featured the Iron Crown of Lombardy (as appeared on the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown) on a blue enamel background. The reverse central disc had a black-enamelled eagle bearing the Savoy cross on a golden background.
  • The star of the Grand Cross was an eight-pointed faceted silver star; the central disc featured the Iron Crown on a blue enamelled background, surrounded by a white enamel ring bearing the inscription VICT. EMMAN. II REX ITALIAE MDCCCLXVI (Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, 1866). There was a black-enamelled eagle bearing the Savoy cross above the star.
  • The star of the Grand Officer was an eight-pointed faceted silver star with ball tips at each point and with the obverse of the badge superimposed upon it.
  • The ribbon of the order was red-white-red.

Notable members

See also

References

  1. Founded by Royal Decree No. 4251 of 20 February 1868, renewed by Royal Decree No. 4850 of 24 January 1869, Royal Magistral Decree of 17 November 1907 and Royal Decree No. 276 of 16 March 1911
  2. Ordini Cavallereschi del Regno d'Italia Corpo della Nobiltà Italiana (retrieved 10 September 2009)
  3. Statutes of the Order of Merit of Savoy 23 January 1988, revised 10 October 1996

External links