Military Order of Italy

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Military Order of Italy
Ordine Militare d'Italia
Med-placca-1.jpg
Republican Breast star of a Military Knight Grand Cross
Awarded by the Italian Republic
Type Order of chivalry
Established14 August 1815;210 years ago (1815-08-14)
Country Italy
EligibilityMilitary personnel
CriteriaValour
StatusCurrently constituted
Grand Master President of the Republic
Chancellor Minister of Defence
Grades
  • Knight Grand Cross
  • Grand Officer
  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight
Post-nominalsOMI[ citation needed ]
Website www.quirinale.it/page/omi
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Next (lower) Order of Merit for Labour


The Military Order of Italy (Italian : Ordine Militare d'Italia) is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815. [1] The order is awarded in five degrees for distinguished wartime conduct of units of the armed forces or individual personnel that has "proven expertise, a sense of responsibility and valour."

Contents

The order was continued on the unification of Italy in 1861 and was revived, under its new name, following the foundation of the Republic in 1946. [2] It is bestowed by decree of the President of the Italian Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence.

Grades

Recipients of the Ordine militare di Savoia were transferred retaining their existing accoutrements and seniority.

The insignia of a Military Knight of Italy Med-insegnarecto.jpg
The insignia of a Military Knight of Italy

The various degrees of the order, which may be conferred posthumously, are as follows:

MonarchyRepublicClass (English)Full title in Italian
Cavaliere di gran croce OMS BAR.svg Cavaliere di gran Croce BAR.svg 1st Class / Knight Grand CrossCavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
Grande ufficiale OMS BAR.svg Grande ufficiale BAR.svg 2nd Class / Grand OfficerGrande Ufficiale dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
Commendatore OMS BAR.svg Commendatore BAR.svg 3rd Class / CommanderCommendatore dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
Ufficiale OMS BAR.svg Ufficiale BAR.svg 4th Class / OfficerUfficiale dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
Cavaliere BAR.svg Cavaliere BAR.svg 5th Class / KnightCavaliere dell'Ordine militare d'Italia

The lowest of these may also be awarded for peacetime actions.

Insignia

See also

References

  1. Founded by Letters Patent dated 14 August 1815, renewed by Royal Decree on 27 September 1855 and 28 March 1857
  2. Under Legislative Decree of the Provisional Head of State No. 15 of 2 June 1947, renewed by Law No. 199 of 27 March 1952