The Military Order of Italy ( it, Ordine Militare d'Italia) is the highest military
order of the
Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
and the former
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to an institutional referendum to abandon the monarchy and f ...
. It was founded as the
Military Order of Savoy
The Military Order of Savoy was a military honorary order of the Kingdom of Sardinia first, and of the Kingdom of Italy later. Following the abolition of the Italian monarchy, the order became the Military Order of Italy.
History
The origin o ...
, a national order by the King of Sardinia,
Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815. The order is awarded in five degrees for distinguished wartime conduct of units of the armed forces or individual personnel that has "proven expertise, a sense of responsibility and valour."
The order was continued on the
unification of Italy
The unification of Italy ( it, Unità d'Italia ), also known as the ''Risorgimento'' (, ; ), was the 19th-century political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of different states of the Italian Peninsula into a single ...
in 1861 and was revived, under its new name, following the
foundation of the Republic in 1946.
[Under Legislative Decree of the Provisional Head of State No. 15 of 2 June 1947, renewed by Law No. 199 of 27 March 1952] It is bestowed by decree of the
President of the Italian Republic
President most commonly refers to:
* President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
, head of the order, on the recommendation of the
Minister of Defence
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
.
Grades
Recipients of the ''Ordine militare di Savoia'' were transferred retaining their existing accoutrements and seniority.
The various degrees of the order, which may be conferred posthumously, are as follows:
The lowest of these may also be awarded for peacetime actions.
Insignia
* The badge is a golden matuna cross, enamelled in white, with a wreath of green-enamelled laurel and oak leaves between the arms of the cross. Officers and Knights wear this badge on a ribbon on the left chest. Commanders and Grand Officers wear it on a necklet.
** The obverse central disc during the monarchy was red enamel with a white enamel cross. The current version is in white enamel with the letters
R.I. (for ''Repubblica Italiana''). In both cases the disc is surrounded by a red enamel ring bearing the inscription ''Al Merito Militare''.
** The reverse central disc is in red enamel with crossed swords. During the monarchy it had the letters
V.E. (for ''Vittorio Emanuele'') on the sides of the sword and the year 1855 above it. The current version has no cypher but has the additional year 1947, the date of the promulgation of the
Italian constitution
The Constitution of the Italian Republic ( it, Costituzione della Repubblica Italiana) was enacted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 December 1947, with 453 votes in favour and 62 against. The text, which has since been amended sixteen times, ...
, below the swords.
** The badge for the three higher classes are suspended by a wreath of green-enamelled laurel and oak leaves; the Officer's badge is suspended by a golden trophy of arms instead and the Knight's badge has neither emblems.
* The star is an eight-pointed faceted silver star with the badge (without suspension) at the centre. This is worn by Knights Grand Cross and Grand Officers only.
* The ribbon is blue—red—blue in equal dimensions.
* Knights Grand Cross wear a sash with the badge of the order suspended from it.
See also
*
List of Italian orders of knighthood
The Italian honours system is a means to reward achievements or service to the Italian Republic, formerly the Kingdom of Italy including the Italian Social Republic.
Orders of chivalry
Italian Republic
There are five orders of knighthood ...
*
Military Order of Savoy
The Military Order of Savoy was a military honorary order of the Kingdom of Sardinia first, and of the Kingdom of Italy later. Following the abolition of the Italian monarchy, the order became the Military Order of Italy.
History
The origin o ...
*
Civil Order of Savoy
References
External links
Presidenza della Repubblica - Le Onorificenze
Ordini dinastici della Real Casa di Savoia
{{Italian orders of knighthood
House of Savoy
Italy, Military Order of
Military awards and decorations of Italy
*
1815 establishments in the Kingdom of Sardinia