Order of Saint Januarius

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Order of Saint Januarius
Real Ordine di San Gennaro.jpg
Star and badge of the order
Awarded by the House of Two Sicilies
Type Dynastic order
Established3 July 1738 [1]
MottoIN SANGUINE FOEDUS (English: Union in Blood)
Founder Charles VII of Naples
Grand Master Disputed:
Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria
Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Next (lower) Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
IT TSic Order Santo Gennaro BAR.svg
Ribbon of the order

The Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius (Italian: Insigne Reale Ordine di San Gennaro) is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood founded by Charles VII of Naples in 1738. It was the last great dynastic order to be constituted as a chivalric 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.

Contents

The grand magistery of the order is disputed among claimants to the headship of the formerly reigning House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

Structure of the order

Originally, the order had four principal officers, whose duties were to administer its affairs:

A reform of 17 August 1827, limited these duties to certain ceremonial roles at the installation of knights, and no successors were appointed to the then-holders of these offices.

The order today

Decoration with collar (left) and with sash and star (right) Divisa.SanGennaro.png
Decoration with collar (left) and with sash and star (right)
Diego de Madariaga, 2nd Marquess of Villa-Fuerte wearing the mantle and insignia of the order Retrato de D. Diego de Madariaga Zea.jpg
Diego de Madariaga, 2nd Marquess of Villa-Fuerte wearing the mantle and insignia of the order

The order continues to be awarded today by the two claimants to the headship of the royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria and Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro.

Since 1960, the order has been awarded sparingly and total membership has not exceeded eighty, most of the knights being members of royal houses, senior officers of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, or Italian grandees.

Members

As of 2016, the knights appointed by Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria, his father and grandfather, were:

As of 2014, [2] the knights appointed by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, his father and grandfather, were:

See also

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References

  1. Acton, Harold (1957). The Bourbons of Naples (1731-1825). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN   9780571249015.
  2. Web site of Constantinian Order