The Order of the Crown of Italy ( it, Ordine della Corona d'Italia, italic=no or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King
Vittorio Emanuele II
Victor Emmanuel II ( it, Vittorio Emanuele II; full name: ''Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso di Savoia''; 14 March 1820 – 9 January 1878) was King of Sardinia from 1849 until 17 March 1861, when he assumed the title o ...
, to commemorate
the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civilian and military merit. Today the Order of the Crown has been replaced by the Order of Merit of Savoy and is still conferred on new knights by the current head of the house of
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
, house = Savoy
, spouse =
, issue = Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice
, father = Umberto II of Italy
, mother = Princess Marie-José of Belgium
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Naples, Kingdo ...
.
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
en, Albert Nicholas Thomas John Maria of Savoy
, house = Savoy
, father = Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
, mother = Princess Elena of Montenegro
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Racconigi, Piedmont, Kingdom of Italy
, d ...
did not abdicate his position as ''
fons honorum The fount of honour ( la, fons honorum) is a person, who, by virtue of his or her official position, has the exclusive right of conferring legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry on other persons.
Origin
During the High Middle Ages ...
'' 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.
Grades
The various degrees of the order, with corresponding ribbons, were as follows:
Insignia
*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
The Iron Crown ( lmo, Corona Ferrea de Lombardia; it, Corona Ferrea; la, Corona Ferrea) is a relic and may be one of the oldest royal insignia of Christendom. It was made in the Early Middle Ages, consisting of a circlet of gold and jewels fi ...
(as appeared on the Austrian
Order of the Iron Crown
The Order of the Iron Crown ( it, link=no, Ordine della Corona Ferrea) was an order of merit that was established on 5 June 1805 in the Kingdom of Italy by Napoleon Bonaparte under his title of Napoleon I, King of Italy.
The order took its name ...
) 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.
Members
Members of the order have included:
*
Isaac Artom (1829–1900), Italian writer diplomat, and politician
*
Harry Woodburn Blaylock
Harry Woodburn Blaylock, CBE (January 6, 1878 — January 25, 1928) was a Canadian lawyer and businessman. He was born in Quebec, and graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Civil Law in 1903. He married Agnes Georgina Mills on Septe ...
(1878–1928), Canadian lawyer and businessman
*
Aaron Bradshaw Jr. (1894–1976),
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
;
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, commanded Anti-Aircraft troops of
U.S. Fifth Army
*
John Buchan (1875–1940), Scottish novelist and diplomat
*
Vice Admiral Felice Napoleone Canevaro (1838–1926), Italian admiral and diplomat
*
Major-general (United Kingdom)
Major general (Maj Gen) is a "two-star" rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. The rank was also briefly used by the Royal Air Force for a year and a half, from its creation to August 1919. In the British Army, a major general is the cus ...
Walter Clutterbuck
Major-General Walter Edmond Clutterbuck (17 November 1894 – 2 February 1987) was a British Army officer who fought during both the First and Second World Wars.
Early life and military career
Born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, on 17 Nove ...
(1894–1987),
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
;
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
*
Adolf von Deines
Johann Georg Adolf Ritter von Deines (May 30, 1845–November 17, 1911) was a Prussian soldier, diplomat, and educator, as well as a member of the lower nobility.
As a member of the Prussian Army, Deines rose to the rank of Cavalry Gene ...
(1845–1911), Prussian diplomat and
General of the Cavalry General of the Cavalry (german: General der Kavallerie) was a General officer rank in the cavalry in various states of which the modern states of German and Austria are successors or in other armies which used the German model. Artillery officers ...
*
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Ho ...
(1859–1930), Scottish statesman and
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
author
*
Cmdr Sir Thomas Fisher RN, English Naval Officer, Managing Director of Canadian Pacific Steamship Company
*
James Whitelaw Hamilton
James Whitelaw Hamilton (1860–1932) RSA, RSW was a Scottish artist, member of the Glasgow School (the ''Glasgow Boys''), of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) and of the New English Art Club.
Career
Hamilton was born in Glasgow, where he studi ...
(1860–1932), Scottish artist, member of the
Royal Scottish Academy
*
William Ernest Powell Giles
William Ernest Powell Giles (20 July 1835 – 13 November 1897), best known as Ernest Giles, was an Australian explorer who led five major expeditions to parts of South Australia and Western Australia.
Early life
Ernest Giles was born in Bris ...
(1835–1897), Australian explorer, gambler, not always strictly sober.
*
Thomas Hanbury
Sir Thomas Hanbury (21 June 18329 March 1907) was an English businessman, gardener and philanthropist. He built the Giardini Botanici Hanbury, or Hanbury botanical gardens, at Mortola, between Ventimiglia and Menton, on the coast of Italy nea ...
(1832–1907), English philanthropist and creator of the
Giardini Botanici Hanbury
The Giardini Botanici Hanbury, also known as Villa Hanbury, are major botanical gardens operated by the University of Genoa. They are located at Corso Montecarlo 43, Mortola Inferiore, several km west of Ventimiglia, Italy.
History
The gar ...
*
Major General James Murray Robert Harrison DSO, CB (1880–1957), Royal Artillery, British Army in recognition of services on Italian-Austrian frontier WW1
*
Vice Admiral Jules James (1885–1957) Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean at the close of WW II, decorated by the last King of Italy,
Umberto II
en, Albert Nicholas Thomas John Maria of Savoy
, house = Savoy
, father = Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
, mother = Princess Elena of Montenegro
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Racconigi, Piedmont, Kingdom of Italy
, d ...
during his 34-day reign.
*Rear Admiral
Katō Hiroharu (Grand Officer in 1920), Imperial Japanese Navy
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Clayton P. Kerr (1900–1977),
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
general,
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
member of the
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
Mission to the
Italian Army
"The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law"
, colors =
, colors_labels =
, march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...
* Edward King, Viscount Kingsborough, in recognition of his work in researching and compiling his
'Antiquities of Mexico'.
*Major General
Robert A. McClure
Robert Alexis McClure (March 4, 1897 – January 1, 1957) was an American general and psychological warfare specialist, who is considered as a Father of U.S. Army Special Warfare.
Biography
Born in Mattoon, Illinois, he graduated from the ...
(1897–1957), father of U.S. Army
Special Operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
, Director of
Information and Media Control at
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; ) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the commander in SHAEF th ...
(SHAEF) during World War II
*
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
Billy Mitchell
William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.
Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, command ...
(1879–1936),
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
air power advocate
*
Cesare Nava
Cesare Nava (1861–1933) was an Italian engineer and politician who served as the minister of national economy between 1924 and 1925 in the cabinet of Benito Mussolini.
Early life and education
Nava was born in Milan on 7 October 1861 to Leo ...
(1861–1933), Italian politician
*
Charles Poletti
Charles Poletti (July 2, 1903 – August 8, 2002) was an American lawyer and politician. He became the 46th governor of New York in December 1942, and was the first Italian-American governor in the United States.
Born in Barre, Vermont to Ital ...
(1903–2002), American lawyer and politician,
Governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has ...
, and
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
in the United States Army; served in Italy during World War II
*
John Rylands
John Rylands (7 February 1801 – 11 December 1888) was an English entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the owner of the largest textile manufacturing concern in the United Kingdom, and Manchester's first multi-millionaire.
After having lea ...
(1801–1888), English entrepreneur and philanthropist
*
Alfred T. Smith (1874–1939), U.S. Army brigadier general
*
Alexander William Stewart
Alexander William Stewart (1865-1933) was a Scottish naval architect, engineer, and inventor of international distinction.
He was the eldest of three brothers in Glasgow who revolutionised heating, cooling and ventilation in shipping accommodat ...
(1868–1933), a naval architect, engineer and inventor
*
Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, Jr.
Yates Stirling Jr. (April 30, 1872 – January 27, 1948) was a decorated and controversial rear admiral in the United States Navy whose 44-year career spanned from several years before the Spanish–American War to the mid-1930s. He was awarded ...
(1872–1948),
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
sea power advocate
*
Rear Admiral Ellery W. Stone (1894–1981),
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
Radio pioneer
*
William Verbeck
William Verbeck (January 18, 1861 - August 24, 1930) was a Dutch–American educator and soldier. He served as head of the St. John's Military Academy in New York. He also served as Adjutant General of New York, commander of the New York Nation ...
*
Giacomo Vuxani
Giacomo Vuxani ( Arbanasi, July 20, 1886 – Trieste, April 7, 1964) was an Italian politician and patriot born in the Arbanasi village of Borgo Erizzo (now Arbanasi), a suburb of Zadar.
After attending classical grammar school, he enrolled in th ...
(1886–1964), Italian politician and patriot
*
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
George H. Weems,
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
;
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
*
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Arthur R. Wilson
Major General Arthur Riehl Wilson CBE (July 18, 1894 – August 11, 1956) was a highly decorated United States Army officer who served during World War I and World War II. He wrote an account of U.S. Army operations in North Africa titled ''Repor ...
(1894–1956),
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
;
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, commanded Coastal Base Section in
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
Order of Merit of Savoy
The Order of Merit of Savoy (OMS) is a
Dynastic order
A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an order under royal patronage. Such an order is bestowed by, as a legitimate , a sovereign or the head of a once-sovereign ruling family. These are often considered part of the cultural pat ...
knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
hood given out by the head of the Royal
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy ( it, Casa Savoia) was a royal dynasty that was established in 1003 in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, the family grew in power from ruling a small Alpine county north-west of Italy to absolute rule of ...
,
Order of chivalry
An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order (distinction), order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic Military order (religious society), military orders of the ...
. Following the demise of the last reigning monarch
Umberto II of Italy
en, Albert Nicholas Thomas John Maria of Savoy
, house = Savoy
, father = Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
, mother = Princess Elena of Montenegro
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Racconigi, Piedmont, Kingdom of Italy
, ...
in 1983, the Order of the Crown of Italy was replaced in 1988 by the Order of Merit of Savoy which was instituted by his heir, the current head of the former
Royal House,
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
, house = Savoy
, spouse =
, issue = Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice
, father = Umberto II of Italy
, mother = Princess Marie-José of Belgium
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Naples, Kingdo ...
. While the ''Ordine al merito d'Savoia'' has never been a national order, it is subsidiary to the
Civil Order of Savoy which was the Order of Merit and it 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.
Civil Order of Savoy
The Civil Order of Savoy was founded as an order of knighthood in 1831 by the King of Sardinia,
Charles Albert
Charles Albert (; 2 October 1798 – 28 July 1849) was the King of Sardinia from 27 April 1831 until 23 March 1849. His name is bound up with the first Italian constitution, the Albertine Statute, and with the First Italian War of Independenc ...
, Duke of Savoy. The intention was to reward those virtues not belonging to the existing
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 ...
, founded by
Vittorio Emanuele I in 1815. The order has one degree, that of Knight (''Cavalieri dell'Ordine civile di Savoia''), and is limited to 70 members. Admission is in the personal gift of the head of the
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy ( it, Casa Savoia) was a royal dynasty that was established in 1003 in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, the family grew in power from ruling a small Alpine county north-west of Italy to absolute rule of ...
The Order of the Crown of Italy
(
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
: Ordine della Corona d'Italia) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King
Vittorio Emanuele II
Victor Emmanuel II ( it, Vittorio Emanuele II; full name: ''Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso di Savoia''; 14 March 1820 – 9 January 1878) was King of Sardinia from 1849 until 17 March 1861, when he assumed the title o ...
, to commemorate
the unification of Italy in 1861. 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
en, Albert Nicholas Thomas John Maria of Savoy
, house = Savoy
, father = Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
, mother = Princess Elena of Montenegro
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Racconigi, Piedmont, Kingdom of Italy
, d ...
did not abdicate his position as ''
fons honorum The fount of honour ( la, fons honorum) is a person, who, by virtue of his or her official position, has the exclusive right of conferring legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry on other persons.
Origin
During the High Middle Ages ...
''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.
Ranks and grades
The Order of Merit of Savoy is divided like
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus into the following ranks:
- ''Knights of Grand Cross,'' no more than one hundred (100);
- ''Dames of Grand Cross'', no more than one hundred (100);
- ''Grand Officers'', no more than one hundred and fifty (150);
- ''Commanders'', who may be no more than three hundred (300);
![Divisa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Divisa.Ord.MeritoSavoia.png)
- ''Dames Commander'', no more than three hundred (300);
- ''Knight Officers'', of an unspecified number;
- ''Knights,'' an unspecified number;
- ''Dames'', an unspecified number.
Non-order merit awards
- Gold cross
![Knights' uniform and Church robes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Knights%27_uniform_and_Church_robes.jpg)
- Silver cross
Dress and Robes
The Order decoration is a white-enamelled, full gold cross, loaded by a blue-enamelled, white shield, with the letters “V.E.” on one side and this inscription on the other: “To the Merit of Savoy 1988”. The blue silk ribbon with a great white pole, a turquoise cloth mantle, adjusted at the ruff by four cords with white and blue silk tassels and with the cross of the Order embroidered on the left side, in various sizes depending on rank.
Grand Masters of the order
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
, house = Savoy
, spouse =
, issue = Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice
, father = Umberto II of Italy
, mother = Princess Marie-José of Belgium
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Naples, Kingdo ...
,
Duke of Savoy
The titles of count, then of duke of Savoy are titles of nobility attached to the historical territory of Savoy. Since its creation, in the 11th century, the county was held by the House of Savoy. The County of Savoy was elevated to a duchy at ...
The council
The council is responsible for running the order, the order focuses mainly on charitable acts.
* Chairman:
Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice
Emanuele Filiberto Umberto Reza Ciro René Maria di Savoia (born 22 June 1972)''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser'' XIV. "Haus Italien". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1997, pp. 33, 38–39. .Willis, Daniel, ''The Descendants of Louis ...
* Vice Chairman: Antonio d’Amelio
* Grand Chancellor: Theo Niederhauser
* Grand Treasurer: Nicolas Gagnebin
* Grand Prior: Monsignor Paolo de Nicolò
* Grand Master of Ceremonies:
Prof
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...
. Alberto Bochicchio
*
HSH Mariano Hugo Windisch Graetz
*
HSH Prince Don Alessandro Jacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi Altemps
*
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...
Giancarlo Melzi d’Eril dei Duchi di Lodi
*
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Carlo Buffa dei Conti di Perrero – Honorary Member
The Junta
The Junta is responsible for voting in new
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
or
Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
to the dynastic order on behalf of the grand master,
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
, house = Savoy
, spouse =
, issue = Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice
, father = Umberto II of Italy
, mother = Princess Marie-José of Belgium
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Naples, Kingdo ...
. There are always five members of the Junta to ensure that there is never an equal count in votes for and against a new possible new
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
or
Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
.
*
HSH Don Alessandro Jacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi Altemps – President
*
Marquess Paolo Thaon di Revel Vandini – Secretary
*
Baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
Enrico Sanjust dei Baroni di Teulada
* Gualtiero Ventura
* Federico Pizzi
Additional information
According to
International Commission for Orders of Chivalry the Order of Merit is also known as the Merit of Savoy
Under their section: chivalric institutions founded by the head of a formerly reigning dynasty, the Order has been defined as the following since their 2016 register:
ITALY
House of Savoy (Catholic)
Merit of Savoy
Founded: H.R.H. Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont and Prince of Naples 23 January 1988.
Ribbon: Blue with a broad white centre stripe.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont and Prince of Naples (Vittorio Emanuele IV, Titular King of Italy) (b. 1937).
Recipients (amongst others)
As of the year 2000 there are/were 1453 recipients of the Order of Merit.
*
Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice
Emanuele Filiberto Umberto Reza Ciro René Maria di Savoia (born 22 June 1972)''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser'' XIV. "Haus Italien". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1997, pp. 33, 38–39. .Willis, Daniel, ''The Descendants of Louis ...
,
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Clotilde Courau
Princess Clotilde Marie Pascale Courau (born 3 April 1969) is a French actress. She is married to Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. Burke's Royal Families of the World: ''Volume I Europe & Latin America''. Burke's Pee ...
, Princess of Venice
*
Princess Vittoria of Savoy, ''Princess of Carignano'' Marchioness of Ivrea
*
Princess Luisa of Savoy
Emanuele Filiberto Umberto Reza Ciro René Maria di Savoia (born 22 June 1972)''Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser'' XIV. "Haus Italien". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1997, pp. 33, 38–39. .Willis, Daniel, ''The Descendants of Louis ...
*
Marina Doria
Marina Ricolfi-Doria (born 12 February 1935) is a Swiss former water skier. She competed three times at the Water Ski World Championships winning gold medals in 1955 and in 1957. She won the overall title in the European Water Ski Championships co ...
, Princess of Naples and
Duchess of Savoy
This is a list of consorts of the Savoyard monarchs.
Countess of Savoy, 1003–1416
Duchess of Savoy, 1416–1713
;As courtesy title
Queen of Sardinia, 1720–1861
Between 1859 and 1861 the Kingdom of Sardinia incorporated the majo ...
*
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma
*
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
*
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy (born 2 February 1943) is the youngest daughter of Italy's last King, Umberto II, and his wife, Queen Marie José.
Life
Born Principessa Maria Beatrice Elena Margherita Ludovica Caterina Romana di Savoia, she ...
*
Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia
* Prince Michael of Yugoslavia
* Prince Sergius of Yugoslavia
* Princess Helen of Yugoslavia
*
Nicholas, Crown Prince of Montenegro
Nicholas, Prince of Montenegro (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Петровић-Његош; born 7 July 1944) is a French-born architect and the Head of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, which reigned over Montenegro from 1696 to 1766 and again fro ...
*
Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro
Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro (born 24 February 1963) is one of the two claimants to the headship of the former House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.
Early life
Prince Carlo was born at Saint-Raphaël, Var, France, as the only son ...
*
Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz
Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz (German: ''Mariano Hugo Fürst zu Windisch-Graetz'', Italian: ''Principe Mariano Ugo di Windisch-Graetz''; born 27 July 1955) is the current head of the Austrian''Les Manuscrits du CEDRE V, Le Royaume d'Ita ...
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Prince Don Alessandro Jacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi Altemps
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Marquess Paolo Thaon di Revel Vandini
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
Enrico Sanjust dei Baroni di Teulada
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Prof
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...
. Alberto Bochicchio
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Carlo Buffa dei Conti di Perrero
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Giuseppe Rizzani
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis Giuliani (, ; born May 28, 1944) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 107th Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. He previously served as the United States Associate Attorney General from 1981 to 198 ...
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Giovanni Cheli
Giovanni Cheli (4 October 1918 – 8 February 2013) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, who had a career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See and then in the senior ranks of the Roman Curia. He was made a cardinal in 1998.
Early ...
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Duke Giancarlo
Melzi d'Eril
Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Duke of Lodi, Count of Magenta (6 March 1753 – 16 January 1816) was an Italian politician and patriot, serving as vice-president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic (1802–1805). He was a consistent supporter of the It ...
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
*
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Andrea Boezio Bertinotti Alliata
* Andrea Rivoira
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Antonio d’Amelio
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Franca Sciaraffia
Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Nicolas Gagnebin
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Theo Niederhauser
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Monsignor Paolo de Nicolò
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
* Alberto Di Maria
*
Dame
''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
Zina Losapio
* Alessandro Santini
*
Gino Lupini
* Marco Bocchio
* Alberico Guerzoni
* Alberto Coluccia
* Simone Balestrini
*
Giovanni Cheli
Giovanni Cheli (4 October 1918 – 8 February 2013) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, who had a career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See and then in the senior ranks of the Roman Curia. He was made a cardinal in 1998.
Early ...
*
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis Giuliani (, ; born May 28, 1944) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 107th Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. He previously served as the United States Associate Attorney General from 1981 to 198 ...
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 ...
*
Dynastic Orders of Knighthood
A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an order under royal patronage. Such an order is bestowed by, as a legitimate , a sovereign or the head of a once-sovereign ruling family. These are often considered part of the cultural ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crown of Italy, Order of the
House of Savoy
Dynastic orders
Awards established in 1868
1983 disestablishments
Civil awards and decorations of Italy
1868 establishments in Italy
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy