The
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second
President of the Italian RepublicThe President of the Italian Republic is the head of state of Italy and, as such, is intended to represent national unity and guarantee that Italian politics comply with the Constitution. The president's term of office lasts for seven years....
,
Luigi EinaudiLuigi Einaudi , Cavaliere di Gran Croce decorato di Gran Cordone OMRI was an Italian politician and economist. He served as the second President of the Italian Republic between 1948 and 1955.-Early life:...
in 1951. The highest ranking honour of the Republic; it is awarded for "merit acquired by the nation" in the fields of literature, the arts, economy, public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities and for long and conspicuous service in civilian and military careers. The post-nominal letters for the order are OMRI.
The order effectively replaced as national orders the
Civil Order of SavoyThe 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...
(1831), the
Order of the Crown of ItalyThe Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
(1868), the
Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusThe Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
(1572) and the Supreme
Order of the Most Holy AnnunciationThe Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in mediæval Italy. It eventually was the pinnacle of the honours system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946...
(1362), which the sovereign, as Grand Master, did not abdicate on the abolition of the monarchy and continues to award in exile as
fons honorum. Today, these continue merely as dynastic orders of the former Royal
House of SavoyThe House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
. Whilst their bestowal is suppressed by law in
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the continued use of those decorations conferred prior to 1951 is permitted, exclusive of any right of precedence in official ceremonies.
Grades
Investiture takes place biannually on 2 June, anniversary of the
foundation of the RepublicThe Italian constitutional referendum which officially took place on 2 June 1946, is a key event of Italian contemporary history. Until 1946, Italy was a kingdom ruled by the House of Savoy, kings of Italy since the Risorgimento and previously rulers of Savoy...
and on 27 December, anniversary of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution. However, those awards on Presidential
motu proprioA motu proprio is a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him....
, related to termination of service or granted to foreigners may be made at any time. The badge, modified in 2001, bears the inscription
Al Merito della Repubblica encircling the
national coat of armsThe emblem of Italy was adopted by the newly formed Italian Republic on 5 May 1948. Although often referred to as a coat of arms , it is technically an emblem as it was not designed to conform to traditional heraldic rules...
on the obverse and
Patriæ Unitati and
Civium Libertati encircling the head of
Italia TurritaItalia Turrita is the national personification or allegory of Italy, characterised by a mural crown typical of Italian civic heraldry of communal origin.. In broader terms, the crown symbolizes its mostly urban history.Italia Turrita is a woman with typical Mediterranean attributes...
on the reverse. The five degrees with corresponding ribbons are as follows (with numbers to June 2011):
Ribbon
(1951-2001) | Ribbon
(since 2001) | Class (English) | Full title in Italian | Awards |
 |
|
Knight Grand Cross with Collar |
Cavaliere di Gran Croce Decorato di Gran Cordone Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
|
 |
|
1st Class / Knight Grand Cross |
Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
8,722 |
 |
|
2nd Class / Grand Officer |
Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
24,006 |
 |
|
3rd Class / Commander |
Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
45,282 |
 |
|
4th Class / Officer |
Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
28,904 |
 |
|
5th Class / Knight |
Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |
123,349 |
The order is bestowed by decree of the
President of the Italian RepublicThe President of the Italian Republic is the head of state of Italy and, as such, is intended to represent national unity and guarantee that Italian politics comply with the Constitution. The president's term of office lasts for seven years....
, as head of the orders of knighthood, on the recommendation of the
President of the Council of MinistersThe Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
. Except in exceptional circumstances, no one can be awarded for the first time a rank higher than Knight. The minimum age requirement is normally 35.
External links