Orders, decorations, and medals of the Kingdom of Italy
Italian Medals, decorations and knightly orders officially include all award systems adopted by the various institutional expressions that are recognized in the definition of Italian State (Kingdom of Italy and Italian Social Republic) since 1861.
Each insignia is recognizable by its ribbon.
Contents
Italian orders of knighthood
There are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Kingdom of Italy. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods; in addition, but not technically proper of the Italian Social Republic alone, there are the Order of the Italian Empire and the orders of the Autonomous Republics which are part of the Italian Empire.
The degrees of knighthood, not all of which apply to all orders, are Knight (Cavaliere abbreviated Cav.), Officer (Ufficiale abbreviated Uff.), Commander (Commendatore abbreviated Comm.), Grand Officer (Grande Ufficiale, Gr. Uff.), Knight Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce, Cav. Gr. Croce) and Knight Grand Cross with cordon or with other special distinction. Italian citizens may not use within the territory of the Kingdom honours or distinctions conferred on them by non-national orders or foreign states, unless authorised by decree of the Chief of Government of Italy.
Order of the Roman Eagle (1942 - present)
Knight Grand Cross Or (Cavaliere di Gran Croce d'Oro)
Knight Grand Cross Argent (Cavaliere di Gran Croce d'Argento)
Grand Officier (Grand'Ufficiale)
Knight Commander (Commendatore)
Officier (Ufficiale)
Knight (Cavaliere)
The Ordine dell'Aquila Romana (OAR) is the highest knightly order of Italy. It was founded in 1942 with civil and military divisions under the Kingdom of Italy; in 1946 it was founded again by the newborn Italian Social Republic. Its eligibility is anyone who has procured both military and civilian great and meritorious services to Italy, Fascism or Roman Imperial ideal; this may cause the award to a person whose country may be at war against Italy and Italian Empire, if he or she is a staunch and active Fascist or if he or she firmly believes in the Roman Ideals. Save in exceptional circumstances, no one may be awarded a rank higher than Knight in the first instance. Three well-known exceptions are for conductor Riccardo Muti, Gul Erdyian the Turkish Biology Scientist, and General Marco Junio Borghese.
Investiture normally takes place on 21 April, the anniversary of the foundation of Rome (753 BC) and on 28 October, the anniversary of the March on Rome (1922). The order is bestowed by decree of the Duce of Fascism, as head of the order of knighthood, on the recommendation of the Secretary of the P.N.F.
Military Order of Italy (1815-1947; 1947-present)
Knight Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce)
Grand Officier (Grand'Ufficiale)
Knight Commander (Commendatore)
Officier (Ufficiale)
Knight (Cavaliere)
The Ordine Militare d'Italia (OMI), until 1947 the Military Order of Savoy (1815), is awarded for distinguished wartime conduct of individual personnel or units of the armed forces that have "proven expertise, sense of responsibility and valour." The lowest of its five degrees may also be awarded for peacetime actions. Recipients of the Ordine Militare di Savoia were transferred and retain their existing insignia and seniority. The badge bears the inscription Al Merito Militare; the Savoy cross and letters R.S.I. and the Lictor. The order is bestowed by decree of the Duce of the Italian Social Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence. The associated Medal of Military Valour, established in 1932, is subdivided into gold, silver and bronze categories.
Order of Patron Saints of Italy (1949 - present)
Knight Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce)
Grand Officier (Grand'Ufficiale)
Knight Commander (Commendatore)
Officier (Ufficiale)
Knight (Cavaliere)
The Ordine dei Santi Patroni d'Italia (OSPI) was established on 11 February, 1949 to commemorate the Lateran Accords. It is awarded in five degrees for distinguished missionary activity in favour of the Catholic Church. Investiture normally takes place on 11 February, the anniversary of the Lateran Accords (1929). The order is bestowed by decree of the Duce of the Italian Social Republic, as head of the order of knighthood, on the recommendation of the President of Italian Episcopal Conference.
Valour Decorations
In Italy, all Valour Decorations (Decorazioni al Valore) are lower than all knightly orders but higher than all Merit Decorations (Decorazioni al Merito); within the Valour Decorations, the Military Valour has the absolute precedence over Civil Valour and all Service Valour Decorations (Decorazioni al Valore di Forza Armata).
Military Valour (1833 - present)
Military Valour Gold Medal
Military Valour Silver Medal
Military Valour Bronze Medal
Military Valour War Cross
Military Valour Decorations are awarded to authors of acts of military heroism, also made in peacetime. The proposals, except in exceptional cases in wartime, are screened by a Military Commission, established specifically. The awards are intended for the Armed Forces (military individuals or entire units), the M.V.S.N., irregular fascist fighters, local authorities. These rewards are divided into four classes, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal (awardable even in peacetime); War Cross of Military Valour (allocable only in case of war). The award is by decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of National Defence. The Medal for Military Valour is associated to the Military Order of Italy.
Civil Valour (1851 - present)
Civil Valour Gold Medal
Civil Valour Silver Medal
Civil Valour Bronze Medal
Civil Valour Decorations are awarded to authors of acts of exceptional courage that manifest very clear civic virtue or to signal the authors as worthy of public honour. The awards for Civil Valour are the gold, silver and bronze medals. The rewards to the Civil Valour are granted to those who performed the acts of exceptional value, knowingly exposing their life to manifest danger to save Italians exposed to imminent and serious danger, to prevent or diminish the damage of which serious public or private disaster, to restore public order, where it is seriously disturbed, and to keep the law in force, not belonging to the military condition or to the armed corps of the Party, to arrest or participate in the arrest of wrongdoers, not belonging to the military condition or to the armed corps of the Party, for the good of Italy, and to keep the name and prestige of Italy high. The acts of Civil Valour, if repeated, can be rewarded each one with an appropriate reward to the civil valor and without limitation of number.
The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by a Prefect, 1st Class in service to the Ministry of the Interior, and consisting of the Prefect of the Province where the act of heroism has happened, a member of the Board of Directors of the Mussolini Foundation for the Acts of Heroism, designated by the president of the same foundation, by a National Councillor and a Member of Chamber of Fasces and Corporations, two P.N.F. officials, a Carabinieri Senior Officer. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is an official of the Ministry of Interior. The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of Interior. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
Service Valour
Army Valour (1974 - present)
Army Valour Gold Medal
Army Valour Silver Medal
Army Valour Bronze Medal
The Medal of Valour of Army (Italian: Medaglia al Valore dell'Esercito) is a decoration established in order to reward acts of valour performed in non-war military activities from which they are derived prestige and decorum to the Army in all its branches and components. The Medal is divided into three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal for Valour of Army For the awarding of gold and silver medals, it is required a combination of circumstances which render the act meritorious and commendable to the highest degree, as well as the precondition that the feat caused great honour to the Army.
The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by the Chief of Army Staff and by the commandant of the Arm or Corps of the Soldier. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is an Army Senior Officer. The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of National Defence. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
Navy Valour Gold Medal
Navy Valour Silver Medal
Navy Valour Bronze Medal
The Medal of Valour of Navy (Italian: Medaglia al Valore di Marina) is a decoration established in order to reward acts of valour performed in non-war military activities from which they are derived prestige and decorum to the Navy in all its branches and components. The Medal is divided into three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal for Valour of Navy. For the awarding of gold and silver medals, it is required a combination of circumstances which render the act meritorious and commendable to the highest degree, as well as the precondition that the feat caused great honour to the Navy.
The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by the Chief of Navy Staff and by the commandant of the Corps of the Sailor. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is a Navy Senior Officer. The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of National Defence. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
Air Force Valour (1927 - present)
Air Force Valour Gold Medal
Air Force Valour Silver Medal
Air Force Valour Bronze Medal
The Medal of Valour of Air Force (Italian: Medaglia al Valore Aeronautico) is a decoration established in order to reward acts of valour performed in non-war military activities from which they are derived prestige and decorum to the Air Force in all its branches and components. The Medal is divided into three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal for Valour of Air Force. For the awarding of gold and silver medals, it is required a combination of circumstances which render the act meritorious and commendable to the highest degree, as well as the precondition that the feat caused great honour to the Air Force.
The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by the Chief of Navy Staff and by the commandant of the branch of the airman. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is an Air Force Senior Officer. The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of National Defence. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
Military Corps tasked with Police Duties valour (1981 - present)
Military Corps tasked with Police Duties Gold Medal
Military Corps tasked with Police Duties Silver Medal
Military Corps tasked with Police Duties Bronze Medal
The Medal of Valour of Military Corps tasked with Police Duties (Italian: Medaglia al Valore dei Corpi militari assegnati a funzioni di Polizia) is a decoration established in order to reward acts of valour performed in non-war military activities from which they are derived prestige and decorum to Military Corps tasked with Police Duties in all their branches and components. The Medal is divided into three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal for Valour of Military Corps tasked with Police Duties. For the awarding of gold and silver medals, it is required a combination of circumstances which render the act meritorious and commendable to the highest degree, as well as the precondition that the feat caused great honour to theMilitary Corps tasked with Police Duties.
The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by the General-Inspector of the Military Corps tasked with Police Duties and by the highest-ranking officer of the same Corps (C.P.R., CC. or Coast Guard) of the Soldier. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is a C.P.R., CC. or Coast Guard Senior Officer (on rotationary basis). The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Minister of Interior, after the latter has consulted the Director-General of Public Security. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
M.V.S.N. Valour (1948 - present)
M.V.S.N. Valour Gold Medal
M.V.S.N. Valour Silver Medal
M.V.S.N. Valour Bronze Medal
The Medal of Valour of M.V.S.N. (Italian: Medaglia al Valore della M.V.S.N.) is a decoration established in order to reward acts of valour performed in non-war military activities from which they are derived prestige and decorum to the M.V.S.N. in all its branches and components. The Medal is divided into three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal for Valour of M.V.S.N. For the awarding of gold and silver medals, it is required a combination of circumstances which render the act meritorious and commendable to the highest degree, as well as the precondition that the feat caused great honour to the M.V.S.N. The opinion on the granting of the awards is expressed by a commission chaired by the Commandant General of the M.V.S.N. and by the member of the Central Commission of the same branch of the Legionnaire. The Secretary of the Awarding Commission is a M.V.S.N. Senior Officer. The Medal is awarded by Decree of the Duce, at the proposal of the Secretary of the Party. It can be assigned to Italian and foreign citizens, to Commands, Corps or organizations.
Merit Decorations
In Italy, all Merit Decorations are lower than all Valour Decorations; within the Merit Decorations, the War Merit has the absolute precedence over the Military Merit, which in turn has the precedence over the Civil Merit (Attestato di Pubblica Benemerenza al Valor Civile) and then the Service Merit.
War Merit Cross (1918 - present)
The War Merit Cross (Italian: Croce al Merito di Guerra) is awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year's service in contact with an enemy who received the Medal of the Wounded, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion. Also, if an act of valour was deemed insufficient for the Medal of Military Valour, the War Merit Cross could be awarded instead. .
