Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
The Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus (Italian: Ordine dei SS Maurizio e Lazzaro ) was a 15th-century Order of Merit of the Counts of Savoy. He probably goes to the Duke Amadeus VIII of employed militia of St.. Mauritius back, which had its seat in the Castle of Ripaille. The Holy Mauritius was since the high Middle Ages as a patron of the Savoy, while Lazarus was among other things, the advocate of the hospital system. Until the abolition of the monarchy in Italy ( 1946), the Order of Merit was the highest award of the country.
Order of classes
The Order was originally donated in three classes and later expanded to five:
Order decoration
The medal decoration is a white enamelled gold encompassed Shamrock Cross. In the angles of the cross, a green enamelled Maltese Cross is introduced with golden border and golden little ball tips. The four highest classes are surmounted by a golden crown.
Carrying method
The band is solid green. Great cruiser wearing the Order over the right shoulder to the left hip as a sash. Great officers and commanders create it as a neck order. Officers and knights decorate it in his button- hole, the officers decorated him with a rosette from the ribbon.
The top two classes will additionally a silver breast star on the left chest. During this eight Grand Cross, Grand Officer of the vierstrahlig is. On the Star, there is again the religious character.
History
The organization, which includes the support of the Order of Merit of Savoy consists, accounts for approximately 3000 members in several European and American countries. As Grand Master officiated always Members of the House of Savoy. At the annual general meeting in Hautecombe in Savoy, the new Knight of the Order be recorded.
In 1951, the Order of Knights was recognized by the Italian State as a charitable organization. The public tasks that perceives the Order, consisting primarily of the services of the employed by him specific hospital organization.
In the possession of the Order is still the historic Romanesque church of Sant'Antonio di Ranverso at the entrance of Susatales.
In 1434 the Order was founded by Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy. Named he became known after the patron saint of the country and as St. Order of Saint Maurice. Soon forgotten, he was replaced by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy in 1572. He should be a shield against the Reformation. Pope Gregory XIII. blessed the Order on September 19, 1572. On his request, the previously repealed in Italy Lazarus Order was activated, which had originally worried about lepers and combined with the Knight Order of St. Mauritius. Since then, the Order has the name St Mauritius and Lazarus Order. At the time of its founding members to four quarters had to be noble and have at least five years belonging to a monastery (100 %).
Changes were made by King Victor Emanuel I. on 27 September 1816 and later by King Charles Albert on October 9, 1831 and 19 May 1837. King Victor Emmanuel II decreed a further amendment on 14 December 1855.