The Civil Order of Savoy was founded as an order of knighthood in 1831 by the King of Sardinia, Charles Albert, Duke of Savoy. It is now replaced by the Order of Merit of Savoy.The intention was to reward those virtues not belonging to the existing Military Order of Savoy, 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 insignia bears the inscription "Al Merito Civile—1831"; the letters on the reverse substituted for after the death of Charles Albert in 1849.
The civil order was continued on the unification of Italy in 1861, but has been suppressed by law since the foundation of the Republic in 1946. Umberto II did not abdicate his position as "fons honorum" however, and the now dynastic order remains under the Grand Mastership of the head of the former Royal house. While the continued use of those decorations awarded prior to 1951 is permitted in Italy, they no longer confer any right of precedence in official ceremonies. The military order on the other hand, was revived as the Military Order of Italy and remains a national order today.
Recipients.
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Order of Merit of Savoy.
The Order of Merit of Savoy (OMS) is a Dynastic order knighthood given out by the head of the Royal House of Savoy, Order of chivalry. Following the demise of the last reigning monarch Umberto II 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. 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, Duke of Savoy. The intention was to reward those virtues not belonging to the existing Military Order of Savoy, 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 Order of the Crown of Italy.
(Italian: Ordine della Corona d'Italia) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, 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 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.
Ranks and grades.
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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);
- "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
- 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.
1. Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, Duke of Savoy (1988–2024)
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2. Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice, Duke of Savoy (2024–Present)
The council.
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The council is responsible for running the order, the order focuses mainly on charitable acts.
The Junta.
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The Junta is responsible for voting in new Knight or Dame to the dynastic order on behalf of the grand master, Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice. 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 or Dame.
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.
References.
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