Military Order of Italy

Italian order of knighthood

Military Order of Italy

Ordine Militare d'Italia

Republican Breast star of a Military Knight Grand Cross

Awarded by the Italian Republic
Type| Order of chivalry
Established| 14 August 1815; 209 years ago (1815-08-14)
Country| Italy
Eligibility| Military personnel
Criteria| Valour
Status| Currently constituted
Grand Master| President of the Republic
Chancellor| Minister of Defence
Grades|

* Knight Grand Cross
* Grand Officer
* Commander
* Officer
* Knight

Post-nominals| OMI
Website| www.quirinale.it/page/omi
Precedence
Next (higher)| Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Next (lower)| Order of Merit for Labour

The Military Order of Italy (Italian: Ordine Militare d'Italia) is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815.[1] The order is awarded in five degrees for distinguished wartime conduct of units of the armed forces or individual personnel that has "proven expertise, a sense of responsibility and valour."

The order was continued on the unification of Italy in 1861 and was revived, under its new name, following the foundation of the Republic in 1946.[2] It is bestowed by decree of the President of the Italian Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence.

## Grades

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Recipients of the Ordine militare di Savoia were transferred retaining their existing accoutrements and seniority.

The insignia of a Military Knight of Italy

The various degrees of the order, which may be conferred posthumously, are as follows:

Monarchy | Republic | Class (English) | Full title in Italian

|
|
|

|  | 1st Class / Knight Grand Cross | Cavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
|  | 2nd Class / Grand Officer | Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
|  | 3rd Class / Commander | Commendatore dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
|  | 4th Class / Officer | Ufficiale dell'Ordine militare d'Italia
|  | 5th Class / Knight | Cavaliere dell'Ordine militare d'Italia

The lowest of these may also be awarded for peacetime actions.

## Insignia

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* The badge is a golden matuna cross, enamelled in white, with a wreath of green-enamelled laurel and oak leaves between the arms of the cross. Officers and Knights wear this badge on a ribbon on the left chest. Commanders and Grand Officers wear it on a necklet.
* The obverse central disc during the monarchy was red enamel with a white enamel cross. The current version is in white enamel with the letters R.I. (for Repubblica Italiana). In both cases the disc is surrounded by a red enamel ring bearing the inscription Al Merito Militare.
* The reverse central disc is in red enamel with crossed swords. During the monarchy it had the letters V.E. (for Vittorio Emanuele) on the sides of the sword and the year 1855 above it. The current version has no cypher but has the additional year 1947, the date of the promulgation of the Italian constitution, below the swords.
* The badge for the three higher classes are suspended by a wreath of green-enamelled laurel and oak leaves; the Officer's badge is suspended by a golden trophy of arms instead and the Knight's badge has neither emblems.
* The star is an eight-pointed faceted silver star with the badge (without suspension) at the centre. This is worn by Knights Grand Cross and Grand Officers only.
* The ribbon is blue—red—blue in equal dimensions.
* Knights Grand Cross wear a sash with the badge of the order suspended from it.

## See also

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* List of Italian orders of knighthood
* Military Order of Savoy
* Civil Order of Savoy

## References

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1. ^ Founded by Letters Patent dated 14 August 1815, renewed by Royal Decree on 27 September 1855 and 28 March 1857
2. ^ Under Legislative Decree of the Provisional Head of State No. 15 of 2 June 1947, renewed by Law No. 199 of 27 March 1952

## External links

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* Presidenza della Repubblica - Le Onorificenze (in Italian)
* Ordini dinastici della Real Casa di Savoia (in Italian)

* v
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Orders, decorations, and medals of Italy

Republic
(1946–present)|

* Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1951)
* Military Order of Italy (1947)
* Order of Merit for Labour (1923)
* Order of the Star of Italy (2011)
* Order of Vittorio Veneto (1968–2010)
* Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (1947–2011)

Dynastic orders
of the monarchy
(1861–1946)|

* Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (1362)
* Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1572)
* Order of the Crown of Italy (1868–1983)
* Military Order of Savoy (1815–1946)
* Civil Order of Savoy (1831)
* Order of Merit for Labour (1901–1923)
* Colonial Order of the Star of Italy (1914–1943)
* Order of the Roman Eagle (1942–1944)

See also: Template:Orders of Italian States before unification

* Italy portal

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