TheItalian honours system is a means to reward achievements or service to theItalian Republic, formerly theKingdom of Italy, including theItalian Social Republic.
There are fiveorders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to theItalian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods. The degrees of knighthood, not all of which apply to all orders, are Knight (Cavaliere abbreviatedCav.), Officer (Ufficiale abbreviatedUff.), Commander (Commendatore abbr.Comm.), Grand Officer (Grand'Ufficiale, abbr.Gr. Uff.), Knight Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce, abbr.Cav. Gr. Croce) and Knight Grand Cross with cordon (Cavaliere di Gran Croce con cordone).
Italian citizens may not use within the territory of the Republic honours or distinctions conferred on them by non-national orders or foreign states, unless authorised byMinistry of Foreign Affairs. The use of awards of theHoly See (including theEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre) is to be authorized byPresidency of the Council of Ministers, while the use of those of theSovereign Military Order of Malta, enjoying formal recognition in Italy, do not need any authorization to boast.[1]
The RoyalHouse of Savoy, Italy's former Royal Family, also continues to bestow knighthoods in three orders of chivalry previously recognised by theKingdom of Italy. In fact,Umberto II, the last King of Italy did not abdicate, and so he preserved hisfons honorum: today the Grand Mastership of the orders remain under the prerogatives of Head of theHouse of Savoy, claimed betweenVittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples andAimone, Duke of Aosta.[2] Today these continue merely as dynastic orders of the Royal House in exile. While their bestowal is suppressed by law in Italy, the use of those decorations conferred prior to 1951 is recognised, exclusive of any right of precedence in official ceremonies.[3] However the Savoy orders, are theoretically recognized by theHoly See amongst others, for example theOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus were recognized bypapal bull ofPopeGregory XIII, where he bestowed uponEmmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and his Savoy successors, the right to confer this knighthood in perpetuity.[4]
TheHouse of Bourbon-Two Sicilies from theKingdom of the Two Sicilies additionally continues to bestow knighthoods, including theSacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George which is fully recognised by the Italian republic.[5] Also the Houses ofBourbon-Parma andHabsburg-Tuscany continues to do so.
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| TheOrdine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (OMRI), instituted in 1951, is the highest ranking honour and most senior order of the Republic. It is awarded in five degrees for "merit acquired by the nation" in the fields of literature, the arts, economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities and for long and conspicuous service in civilian and military careers.[3] Save in exceptional circumstances, no one may be awarded a rank higher than Knight in the first instance. Three well-known exceptions are for the musicianLuciano Pavarotti, who was first awarded a Commander in 1976,[6]Erol Gelenbe the Turkish and French Computer Scientist who was awarded a Commander in 2005, and the ConductorClaudio Abbado, who was awarded a Knight Grand Cross in 1984.[7] Investiture normally takes place on 2 June, the anniversary of thefoundation of the Republic (celebrated in Italy asFesta della Repubblica) and on 27 December, the anniversary of the promulgation of theItalian Constitution. The badge bears the inscriptionAl Merito della Repubblica encircling thenational emblem on the obverse andPatriae Unitati andCivium Libertati encircling the head ofItalia Turrita on the reverse. The order is bestowed by decree of thePresident of the Italian Republic, as head of the orders of knighthood, on the recommendation of the President of the Council of Ministers.[8] |
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| TheOrdine Militare d'Italia, until 1947 the Military Order of Savoy (1815),[nb 1] is awarded for distinguished wartime conduct of individual personnel (or units of thearmed forces) that have "proven expertise, sense of responsibility and valour." The lowest of its five degrees may also be awarded for peacetime actions. Recipients of theOrdine Militare di Savoia were transferred and retain their existing insignia and seniority.[nb 2] The badge bears the inscriptionAl Merito Militare—1855; the Savoy cross and lettersV.E. substituted withR.I. and 1947, the date of the promulgation of the constitution. The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of theMinister of Defence. Today there are just 14 living recipients.[9] The associated Medal of Military Valour, established in 1932, is subdivided intogold,silver andbronze categories.[10] |
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| TheOrdine al Merito del Lavoro is awarded to those "who have been singularly meritorious" in agriculture, commerce and industry. It was first instituted by Royal Decree on 9 May 1901, replacing theOrdine Cavalleresco al Merito Agrario, Industriale e Commerciale which had been created by Royal Decree on 1 March 1898.[nb 3] The order is open to all Italians, at home and overseas. Each year, on 1 June 25 new Knights of Labour are invested. The badge bears the inscriptionAl Merito del Lavoro—1901. The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of theMinister of Economic Development (successor to the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship). The associated Star of Merit for Labour, established in 1923,[nb 4] confers the title of Master of Labour.[11] |
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| TheOrdine della Stella d'Italia (OSI) was originally instituted in 1947 as theOrder of the Star of Italian Solidarity, to recognise those expatriates and foreigners who made an outstanding contribution to the reconstruction of Italy afterWorld War II.[nb 5] The badge bears the inscriptionSolidarietà Italiana encircling a depiction of theGood Samaritan. The order is bestowed in three degrees by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of theMinister of Foreign Affairs. In 2011, it was reformed and the emphasis shifted to the preservation and promotion of national prestige abroad.[12] |
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| TheOrdine diVittorio Veneto was instituted with a single rank of Knight in 1968, "to express the gratitude of the nation" to those decorated with theCross of War who had fought for at least six months inWorld War I and earlier conflicts.[nb 6] A small annuity was granted in favour of those recipients who did not enjoy an income above their tax allowance. The order was bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence. Lying dormant, it was formally abolished in 2010.[13] |
TheSardinian orders of the Most Holy Annunciation, of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and the Military and Civil orders of Savoy were continued on theunification of Italy in 1861. These were augmented during the Liberal period by the Order of the Crown of Italy, the Chivalrous Order of Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial Merit, the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy and later, by the Civil and Military Order of the Roman Eagle.[14] In contrast to the Republican orders, the feminine styleDama is used for women.
TheKnight Bachelor, usually transmitted by maleprimogeniture, was similar to a Britishbaronetcy but older.[15] TheseCavaliere Ereditario were not, however, members of an order of chivalry.
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| The origins of theOrdine supremo della Santissima Annunziata date from 1362, whenAmadeus VI, Count of Savoy, instituted theOrder of the Collar, dedicated to theBlessed Virgin Mary.[16] Eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus before being admitted. The highest ranking honour of the Kingdom of Italy and limited to 20 Knights; it continues to be awarded by the Sovereign Head of the order, the head of the House of Savoy, in recognition of "eminent services in high military positions, to those who have distinguished themselves in senior positions in the civil service and to those who, as private citizens, have brought distinction upon Italy as exemplary benefactors of the nation or of mankind or have rendered particularly noteworthy services to the former Royal house."[17] |
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| TheOrdine militare e religioso dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro was formed in 1572 by a union of the original Order of Saint Maurice (1434) and the Italian foundation of the Military and HospitallerOrder of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem (1142).[nb 7] 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 being admitted. The order continues to be awarded by its Grand Master, for "significant contributions to science, literature, the arts, industry, trade, scholarship and research, the liberal arts, the professions, public service and other worthy fields of endeavour, which bring honour and greatness to the House of Savoy and benefits to humanity."[18] The formerly associatedMaurician Medal for Military Merit of tenlustrums (fifty years), established in 1839,[nb 8] was one of the few medals not suppressed by the Republic, becoming the Maurician Medal of Merit for ten lustrums military career in 1954.[19] |
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| TheOrdine della Corona d'Italia was founded in 1868 by KingVittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate unification.[nb 9] The order was awarded more liberally than the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and could be conferred on non-Catholics as well. It continued to be awarded for civilian and military merit by the head of the former Royal house in exile (acting as King of Italy) until the demise of the last reigning monarch in 1983. |
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| TheOrdine Civile di Savoia was founded in 1831 by the King of Sardinia,Charles Albert, Duke of Savoy, to reward those virtues not belonging to the existingMilitary Order of Savoy. Admission, limited to 70 Italians, was in the personal gift of the monarch and, as such, it continues to be awarded, rarely, by the head of the House of Savoy to those who "have by their long and diligent efforts, become outstanding members of society, or who have contributed greatly to the common good," among the scientists, lettered, administrators, engineers, architects, artists, authors, athletes, philanthropist and publishers of discoveries and to the teachers of sciences and letters and the managers of education.[20] It was replaced by his successor with theOrder of Merit (falling within the Civil Order) of Savoy in 1988.[21] |
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| TheOrdine coloniale della Stella d'Italia was founded in 1914 by KingVittorio Emanuele III, to reward soldiers deployed in the colony ofLibya. It had fallen into abeyance by 1943, whenAllied forces re-took the colonies ofItalian North Africa.[22] |
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| TheFascistOrdine civile e militare dell'Aquila Romana founded in 1942 with civil and military divisions[nb 10] was formally abolished in 1944;[nb 11] although it continued to be awarded in the short-livedItalian Social Republic with, from February to April 1945, the Order of the Patron Saints of Italy. |
| Order of Saint Januarius |
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| TheIllustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius (Italian:Insigne Reale Ordine di San Gennaro) is anorder of knighthood in theRoman Catholic Church. The order was founded byCharles VII of Naples in 1738. It was the last greatdynastic order to be constituted as achivalric fraternity, with a limitation to Roman Catholics and a direct attachment to the dynasty rather than the state. The founder of the order, Charles VII of Naples, ruled from 1734 until 1759. |
| TheSacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (SMOCG) (Italian:Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio,Spanish:Sagrada Orden Militar Constantiniana de San Jorge), also historically referred to as theImperial Constantinian Order of Saint George and theOrder of the Constantinian Angelic Knights of Saint George, is adynastic order of knighthood of theHouse of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. The order was founded either inc. 330 (legendary) orc. 1545 (actual). |
| Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit |
| TheIllustrious Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit is anorder of knighthood of theKingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was established on 1 April 1800 byFerdinand IV of Naples and III Sicily to reward men who performed important deeds and gave proof of loyalty to theHead of the Royal House and to theRoyal Family. |
| Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies |
| TheRoyal Order of the Two-Sicilies (Italian:Ordine reale delle Due Sicilie) was adynastic order of knighthood of theKingdom of Naples and theKingdom of Two Sicilies. The order was established 24 February 1808 byJoseph Bonaparte, who, at the time, was theKing of Naples. The order was expanded and continued under the rule ofJoachim Murat but was ultimately suppressed byFerdinand I of the Two Sicilies in 1819. Those Knights of the Order of the Two-Sicilies who were still active were instead awarded theOrder of Saint George and Reunion. |
| Order of Saint George of the Reunion |
| TheOrder of Saint George of the Reunion is anorder of knighthood of the Kingdom of theTwo Sicilies. It was established to replace theRoyal Order of the Two-Sicilies. It was created on 1 January 1819 byFerdinand I of the Two Sicilies to reward military valor and merit. It received its name to celebrate the reunification ofNaples andSicily into one kingdom after theCongress of Vienna. |
| Royal Order of Francis I |
| TheRoyal Order of Francis I (properly 'The Royal Order ofFrancis I of the Two Sicilies'Italian:Reale Ordine di Francesco I) was an extinct order of merit of the formerKingdom of the Two Sicilies which was annexed in 1861 by the King of Italy (until 1860 King of Piedmonte and Sardinia). It has been revived byPrince Carlo, Duke of Castro, as an award for services to charity and inter-religious understanding and includes a number of non-Catholic statesmen and stateswomen among its membership. |
| Name | Ribbon | Awarded for | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medal of Military Valor |  | Exceptional valor in the face of the enemy | [23] |
| War Cross for Military Valor |  | Valor in time of war | [24] |
| Medal of Valor of the Army |  | Activities bringing luster and decorum to the Italian Army not in time of war | [25] |
| Medal of Valor of the Navy |  | Acts of courage aimed at saving lives at sea | [26] |
| Medal of Valor of the Air Forces |  | Acts of courage and philanthropy in the Air Forces | [27] |
| Medal of Valor of the Carabineri Branch |  | Acts of courage in military operations not in time of war serving theCarabinieri | [28] |
| Medal of Valor of the Financial Guard |  | Acts of courage aimed at saving lives, preventing accidents, or bringing luster and decorum while serving theGuardia di Finanza | [29] |
| Award for Civil Valor |  | Acts of exceptional courage manifesting civic virtue | [30] |
| Republic (1946–present) |
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