Award
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italian : Ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana ) was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic , Luigi Einaudi in 1951.[1]
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.[2]
The order effectively replaced national orders such as the Civil Order of Savoy (1831), the Order of the Crown of Italy (1868), the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1572) and the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (1362).[note 1]
Grades [ ]
Investiture takes place twice a year on 2 June, the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic and on 27 December, the anniversary of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution . However, those awards on Presidential motu proprio , 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 arms on the obverse and the Latin Patriæ Unitati (for the union of the country) and Civium Libertati (for the liberty of the citizens) encircling the head of Italia Turrita on the reverse.[4] The six degrees with corresponding ribbons are as follows (with numbers to 2 June 2020):
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
201
1st Class / Knight Grand Cross
Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
9,178
2nd Class / Grand Officer
Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
24,830
3rd Class / Commander
Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
48,184
4th Class / Officer
Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
33,442
5th Class / Knight
Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
146,390
The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Italian Republic , as head of the orders of knighthood, on the recommendation of the President of the Council of Ministers . 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.
The Knight Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to heads of state .
Recipients [ ]
Grand Cross with Collar [ ]
Date
Recipient
28 December 1952
Greece – King Paul I (1947–1964)
11 March 1953
Brazil – President Getúlio Vargas (1930–1945; 1951–1954)
30 May 1953
Monaco – Prince Rainier III (1949–2005)
16 July 1953
Lebanon – President Camille Chamoun (1952–1958)
6 October 1953
Venezuela – President Marcos Pérez Jiménez (1953–1958)
16 November 1953
Argentina – President Juan Domingo Perón (1946–1955; 1973–1974)
31 December 1953
Germany – President Theodor Heuss (1949–1959)
13 February 1954
Haiti – President Paul Magloire (1950–1956)
31 July 1954
Dominican Republic – President Rafael Trujillo (1930–1938; 1942–1952)
6 September 1954
Chile – President Carlos Ibanez del Campo (1927–1931; 1952–1958)
17 November 1954
Sovereign Order of Malta – Liutenant Grand Master Fra' Antonio Hercolani Fava Simonetti (1951–1955)
6 December 1954
France – President René Coty (1954–1959)
12 February 1955
El Salvador – President Oscar Osorio (1950–1956)
Date
Recipient
11 May 1955
Italy – Former President Luigi Einaudi (1948–1955)
21 October 1955
Ethiopia – Emperor Haile Selassie (1930–1974)
16 January 1956
Brazil – President Juscelino Kubitschek (1956–1961)
5 June 1956
Italy – Former President Enrico De Nicola (1946–1948)
20 September 1956
Liberia – President William Tubman (1944–1971)
15 November 1956
Peru – President Manuel Prado Ugarteche (1939–1945; 1956–1962)
18 January 1957
Costa Rica – President José Figueres Ferrer (1948–1949; 1953–1958; 1970–1974)
6 March 1957
Sovereign Order of Malta – Liutenant Grand Master Fra' Ernesto Paternò Castello di Carcaci (1955–1962)
11 March 1957
Ireland — President Seán T. O'Kelly (1945–1959)
13 May 1957
Turkey – President Celal Bayar (1950–1960)
11 June 1957
Panama – President Ernesto de la Guardia (1956–1960)
26 August 1957
Iran – Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1941–1979)
1 October 1957
El Salvador – President José María Lemus (1956–1960)
9 May 1958
United Kingdom – Queen Elizabeth II (1952–incumbent )
16 June 1959
France – President Charles De Gaulle (1959–1969)
11 June 1960
Argentina – President Arturo Frondizi (1958–1962)
8 September 1960
Finland – President Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (1956–1982)
22 September 1960
Thailand – King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946–2016)
29 November 1960
Uruguay – President Benito Nardone (1960–1961)
6 April 1961
Uruguay – President Eduardo Víctor Haedo (1961–1962)
Date
Recipient
30 December 1971
Austria – President Franz Jonas (1965–1974)
23 November 1972
Indonesia – President Suharto (1968–1998)
21 March 1973
Germany – President Gustav Heinemann (1969–1974)
8 May 1973
Zaire – President Mobutu Sese Seko (1965–1997)
21 May 1973
Romania – President of the State Council Nicolae Ceausescu (1967–1989)
8 June 1973
Saudi Arabia – King Faisal (1964–1975)
1 October 1973
France – President Georges Pompidou (1969–1974)
23 October 1973
Netherlands – Queen Juliana (1948–1980)
Netherlands – Prince Bernhard (1948–1980)
26 October 1973
Luxembourg – Grand Duke Jean (1964–2000)
21 November 1973
Gabon – President Omar Bongo (1967–2009)
8 February 1974
Mexico – President Luis Echeverría (1970–1976)
22 April 1974
Oman – Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said (1970–2020)
15 December 1974
Iran – Prince Reza Pahlavi
Iran – Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi (1961–1979)
6 April 1976
Egypt – President Anwar Sadat (1970–1981)
17 November 1976
Venezuela – President Carlos Andrés Pérez (1974–1979; 1989–1993)
8 November 1977
Denmark – Queen Margrethe II (1972–incumbent )
29 April 1978
Turkey – President Fahri Koruturk (1973–1980)
Date
Recipient
24 April 1986
Germany – President Richard von Weizsäcker (1984–1994)
25 July 1986
Ireland – President Patrick John Hillery (1976–1990)
5 October 1987
Iceland – President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (1980–1996)
6 June 1988
Venezuela – President Jaime Lusinchi (1984–1989)
16 June 1988
Philippines – President Corazon Aquino (1986–1992)
5 April 1989
Portugal – President Mario Soares (1986–1996)
12 May 1989
Poland – President Wojciech Jaruzelski (1989–1990)
22 May 1990
Sovereign Order of Malta – Prince and Grand Master Fra' Andrew Bertie (1988–1998)
11 June 1990
San Marino – Captain Regent (1990)
San Marino – Captain Regent (1990)
8 April 1991
Sweden – King Carl XVI Gustav (1973–incumbent )
17 April 1991
Chile – President Patricio Aylwin (1990–1994)
15 July 1991
Hungary – President Árpád Göncz (1990–2000)
18 September 1991
Malta – President Censu Tabone (1989–1994)
19 December 1991
Russia – President Boris Yeltsin (1991–1999)
28 April 1992
Italy – President Francesco Cossiga (1985–1992) self-awarded
Date
Recipient
5 October 1992
Argentina – President Carlos Menem (1989–1999)
27 January 1993
Austria – President Thomas Klestil (1992–2004)
14 September 1993
Finland – President Mauno Koivisto (1982–1994)
3 May 1995
Ukraine – President Leonid Kuchma (1994–2005)
24 June 1995
Brazil – President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995–2002)
29 June 1995
Venezuela – President Rafael Caldera (1994–1999)
19 July 1995
Chile – President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994–2000)
21 July 1995
Uruguay – President Julio María Sanguinetti (1995–2000)
16 November 1995
Malta – President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (1994–1999)
26 March 1996
Mexico – President Ernesto Zedillo (1994–2000)
23 April 1996
Albania – President Sali Berisha (1992–1997)
28 May 1996
Poland – President Aleksander Kwaśniewski (1995–2005)
7 October 1996
Turkey – President Süleyman Demirel (1993–2000)
28 January 1997
Finland – President Martti Ahtisaari (1994–2000)
20 April 1997
Germany – President Roman Herzog (1994–1999)
2 May 1997
Uzbekistan – President Islam Karimov (1991–2016)
4 May 1997
Kazakhstan – President Nursultan Nazarbayev (1990–2019)
20 May 1997
Lithuania – President Algirdas Brazauskas (1992–1998)
21 May 1997
Latvia – President Guntis Ulmanis (1993–1999)
22 May 1997
Estonia – President Lennart Meri (1992–2001)
19 July 1997
Saudi Arabia – King Fahd (1982–2005)
5 November 1997
Lebanon – President Elias Hrawi (1989–1998)
13 November 1997
Slovakia – President Michal Kovac (1993–1998)
3 March 1998
San Marino – Captain Regent (1998)
San Marino – Captain Regent (1998)
12 April 1998
Japan – Emperor Akihito (1989–2019)
12 May 1998
Belgium – King Albert II (1993–2013)
19 January 1999
Dominican Republic – President Leonel Fernández (1996–2000; 2008–2012)
19 February 1999
Palestine – President Yasser Arafat (1994–2004)
23 February 1999
Lithuania – President Valdas Adamkus (1998–2003; 2004–2009)
Date
Recipient
21 October 1999
France – President Jacques Chirac (1995–2007)
15 November 1999
Algeria – President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1999–2019)
2 March 2000
South Korea – President Kim Dae-Jung (1998–2003)
3 March 2000
Chile – President Ricardo Lagos (2000–2006)
11 April 2000
Morocco – King Mohammed VI (1999–incumbent )
26 April 2000
Qatar – Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995–2013)
23 January 2001
Greece – President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos (1995–2005)
9 February 2001
Jordan – King Abdullah II (1999–incumbent )
7 March 2001
Argentina – President Fernando de la Rúa (1999–2001)
Uruguay – President Jorge Batlle (2000–2005)
19 October 2001
Norway – King Harald V (1991–incumbent )
27 November 2001
Portugal – President Jorge Sampaio (1996–2006)
14 January 2002
Serbia and Montenegro – President Vojislav Koštunica (2000–2003)
6 March 2002
South Africa – President Thabo Mbeki (1999–2008)
11 March 2002
San Marino – Captain Regent (2002)
San Marino – Captain Regent (2002)
22 March 2002
Germany – President Johannes Rau (1999–2004)
27 March 2002
Czech Republic – President Vaclav Havel (1993–2003)
17 June 2002
Hungary – President Ferenc Mádl (2000–2005)
28 June 2002
Slovakia – President Rudolf Schuster (1999–2004)
4 December 2002
Peru – President Alejandro Toledo (2001–2006)
14 March 2003
Luxembourg – Grand Duke Henri (2000–incumbent )
9 June 2003
Malaysia – King Sirajuddin of Perlis (2001–2006)
16 January 2004
Malta – President Guido de Marco (1999–2004)
8 April 2004
Latvia – President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (1999–2007)
Estonia – President Arnold Rüütel (2001–2006)
5 April 2005
Bulgaria – President Georgi Parvanov (2002–2012)
11 May 2005
Malta – President Edward Fenech Adami (2004–2009)
12 December 2005
Monaco – Prince Albert II (2005–incumbent )
18 January 2006
Greece – President Karolos Papoulias (2005–2015)
15 March 2006
Germany – President Horst Köhler (2004–2010)
See also [ ]
Notes [ ]
^ Today, these continue merely as dynastic orders of the former Royal House of Savoy . Whilst their bestowal is suppressed by law in Italy , the continued use of those decorations conferred prior to 1951 is permitted, exclusive of any right of precedence in official ceremonies.[3]
References [ ]
^ Sainty, Guy Stair World Orders of Knighthood and Merit (pp. 1233-4) Buckingham: Burke's Peerage and Gentry, 2006
^ The linguist: Journal of the Institute of Linguists , Volumes 42-44 Institute of Linguists (Great Britain). Institute of Linguists, 2003, pg. 121
^ LEGGE 3 marzo 1951, n. 178 Istituzione dell'Ordine "Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" e disciplina del conferimento e dell'uso delle onorificenze (Gazzetta Ufficiale 30 marzo 1951, n. 73)
^ By Decree of the President of the Republic No. 173 of 30 March 2001
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ Italian Presidency website, KUFUOR John Agyekum Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, GASPAROVIC Ivan Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, FISCHER Heinz Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, BACHELET JERIA Verónica Michelle decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD Abdallah decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, HALONEN Tarja Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, SLEIMAN Michel Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, FESTING Matthew Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,
LEE Myung-bak Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Abdullah Gul – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Al-Assad S.E. Bashar Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ ATTO CAMERA INTERROGAZIONE A RISPOSTA SCRITTA 4/17085 Banchedati.camera.it (in Italian)
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. George Abela – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, AL-AHMAD AL-JABER AL-SABAH Sabah Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Danilo Türk – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Ivo Josipovic – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Traian Basescu – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Bronislaw Komorowski – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. François Hollande – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Gauck S.E. Joachim – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.E. Bujar Nishani – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Pahor S.E. Borut - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Beccari S.E. Luca - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Ciavatta S.E. Valeria - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana" . www.quirinale.it .
^ Italian Presidency website, Biya S.E. Paul - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Iohannis S.E. Klaus Werner - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Peña Nieto S.E. Enrique - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Plevneliev S.E. Rosen - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Essebsi S.E. Sig. Béji Caïd - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Macri S.E. Mauricio - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, S.M. Willem Alexander Claus George van Oranje-Nassau – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Coleiro Preca S.E. Marie-Louise - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Niinistö S.E. Sauli - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,S.E. Marcelo Nuno Duarte – Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Kalijulaid S.E. la Signora Kersti Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Grybauskaitè Sig.ra Dalia Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Vejonis S.E. Sig. Raimonds Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Aliyev S.E. Ilham Heydar Oglu Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,Sarkissian S.E. Sig. Armen Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,[https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/358308 Van der Bellen S.E. Sig. Alexander
Decorato di Gran Cordone] – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,[https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/360243 Steinmeier S.E. Frank-Walter
Decorato di Gran Cordone] – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website,[https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/363557 Sakellaropoulou S.E. Katerina
Decorato di Gran Cordone] – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Nicolini S.E. Marco - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Venturini S.E. Gian Carlo - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
^ Italian Presidency website, Macron S.E.Emmanuel - Decorato di Gran Cordone – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
External links [ ]
Republic (1946–present)Dynastic orders of the monarchy (1861–1946)See also:
Template:Orders of Italian States before unification
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