The Royal Order of Francis I (properly 'The Royal Order of

Francis I of the Two Sicilies Francis I of the Two Sicilies ( it, Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe Saverio Giovanni Battista; 19 August 1777 – 8 November 1830) was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830 and regent of the Kingdom of Sicily from 1806 to 1814. Biography Fran ...

' it, Reale Ordine di Francesco I) was an extinct order of merit of the former

Kingdom of the Two Sicilies The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ( it, Regno delle Due Sicilie) was a kingdom in Southern Italy from 1816 to 1860. The kingdom was the largest sovereign state by population and size in Italy before Italian unification, comprising Sicily and a ...

which was annexed in 1861 by the King of Italy (until 1860 King of Piedmonte and Sardinia). It has been revived by

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 ...

, as an award for services to charity and inter-religious understanding and includes a number of non Roman Catholic statesmen and stateswomen among its membership.

History

The Royal Order of Francis I was founded on 28 September 1829 as an award of civil merit in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies for distinction in public service, science, the arts, agriculture, industry and commerce. Although the order was a State Order and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ceased to exist in 1860, the Order continued to be awarded by the exiled King Francis II and his brother and successor

Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta (28 March 1841 – 26 May 1934) was the third son of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Maria Theresa of Austria (1816-1867), Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria. He was pretender to the Kingdom of the Two Sicil ...

, although the latter did so for the last time in 1920, since they were still claiming all the prerogatives of the crown. His successor as head of the Dynasty,

Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Calabria Prince Ferdinand Pius (''Ferdinando Pio Maria''), Duke of Castro (25 July 1869, Rome – 7 January 1960, Lindau), was head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and pretender to the throne of the extinct Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1934 to 1960 ...

who was head of the family from 1934-1960 accepted the de facto existence of the Italian State and abandoned an active pretension to the throne, considering the order to be abeyance. The latter's nephew,

Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria , title =Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta , image =Infante Alfonso de Calabria.jpg , caption = Portrayed wearing the uniform of the Regimiento de Húsares de la Princesa, c. 1915 , succession = Head of the House ...

, and great-nephew

Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria , image = Infante_Carlos,_Duke_of_Calabria.jpg , caption = Photographed in his studio in a Teba jacket , succession = Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (disputed) , reign-type = Tenure , reign = 3 February 1964 – 5 October 2015 ...

continued this policy, as has the latter's son and heir.

, much like his father,

Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, The Duke of Castro (Ferdinando Maria Andrea Alfonso Marcus; 28 May 1926 – 20 March 2008) was a claimant to the headship of the former Royal House of the Two Sicilies. Biography Ferdinand was born ...

, head of the line of the family descended from

Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro , title = Duke of Castro , image = Raniero.jpg , image_size = , caption = Portrayed with a cavalry uniform of the Spanish Army and the Order of Alcántara, c. 1914 , succession = Head of the House of Bo ...

has claimed the title and right of Grand Master and bestowed the order.

Notable recipients

;Dames Grand Cross *

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(14 November 2003) ;Knights Grand Cross *

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(2014) *

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(2006) *

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(2004) ;Dames Commander ;Knights Commander *

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;Knights or Dames * Richard L. Cosnotti * ;Unknown Classes *

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Grades

The Order is now divided into three grades (the modern revival has allowed the award to women): * Knight Grand Cross with sash ribbon and star * Dame Grand Cross, with ribbon with bow edged in gold and covered with

fleurs-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

* Knight Commander, with cross on neck ribbon * Dame Commander with ribbon with bow edged in gold and cross; * Knight First Class, with ribbon and cross; * Dame First Class with ribbon with bow and cross.

History

Notable recipients

Grades

See also