Royal Order of Francis I

Royal Order of Francis I
Breast Star of the Order
Awarded by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Type	Previously a State Order, Currently a Dynastic Order
Established	28 September 1829
Motto	MERITO DE REGE OPTIME
Awarded for	Civil and military merit and services to industry, agriculture, and the arts to the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint George of the Reunion
Ribbon of the Order

The Royal Order of Francis I (properly 'The Royal Order of Francis I of the Two Sicilies' Italian: Reale Ordine di Francesco I) was an extinct order of merit of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies which was annexed in 1861 by the King of Italy (until 1860 King of Piedmont and Sardinia). It has been revived by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, 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, 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 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, and great-nephew Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria continued this policy, as has the latter's son and heir.

Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, much like his father, Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, head of the line of the family descended from Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro has claimed the title and right of Grand Master and bestowed the order.

Notable recipients

Grades

Knight	Commander	Knight Grand Cross

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
• 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.

See also

• Order of Saint Januarius
• Order of Saint George and Reunion
• Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit
• Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

• v
• t
• e

Orders of the Italian States before the Unification of Italy (1871)

Kingdom of
Sardinia

• Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
• Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
• Military Order of Savoy
• Civil Order of Savoy

Republic
of Genoa

• Military Order of Saint George (Red-coloured cross)

Kingdom of
Lombardy–Venetia
(Austrian orders)

• Order of the Golden Fleece
• Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
• Military Order of Maria Theresa
• Order of the Iron Crown
• Order of Leopold
• Order of Franz Joseph
• Order of the Starry Cross
• Order of Elizabeth and Theresa

Republic of Venice

• Order of Saint Mark
  • Order of the Golden Stole
• Company of the Hose

Duchy of Lucca

• Order of Saint George for Military Merit
• Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit

Duchy of Parma

• Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
• Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit

Duchy of
Modena
and Reggio

• Order of the Eagle of Este
• Cross of Seniority of Service

Grand Duchy
of Tuscany

• Order of Saint Stephen
• Order of Saint Joseph
• Order of the Civil and Military Merit

Papal States

Holy See	Supreme Order of Christ Order of the Golden Spur Order of Pope Pius IX Order of St. Gregory the Great Order of St. Sylvester
Protected by the Holy See	Order of the Holy Sepulchre Teutonic Order
See also	Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Kingdom of
the Two Sicilies

• Order of Saint Januarius
• Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
• Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit
• Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies
• Order of Saint George of the Reunion
• Royal Order of Francis I

See also: Template:Italian orders, decorations, and medals