Supreme order of Christ
Gregory XVI founded this order to reward the civil and military virtues of
subjects of the Papal States by brief "Quod Summis", 1 Sept., 1831, and placed
it under the patronage of the great pope whose name it bears. It has two
divisions, civil and military, and each division is divided into four classes, viz.:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Grand Cross Knights of the First Class;
Grand Cross Knights of the Second Class;
Commanders, and
simple Knights.
The decoration is a bifurcated or eight-pointed red enameled gold cross, in the center of which is a
blue medallion on which is impressed in gold the image of St. Gregory, and at the side of his head near
the right ear is a dove; in a circle around the image appears in golden letters "S. Gregorius Magnus".
On the reverse side is the device, "Pro Deo et Principe", and in the center around it, GREGORIUS
XVI. P. M. ANNO. 1. The badge is the cross of the order surrounded with silver rays. The ribbon of the
order is red with orange borders. The cross worn by a knight of the military division is surmounted by
a military trophy; the cross of a knight of the civil division is surmounted by a crown of gold oak
leaves. The costume of ceremony is a dress coat of dark green open in front, and covered on breast
and back with embroideries in the form of oak leaves. White trousers with silver side stripes, a
bicornered ornamented hat, and the usual knightly sword, complete the costume, which is rarely
worn.
Order of Pius IX
This had for its founder (17 June, 1847) the pope whose name it bears. Its
object is to fittingly reward noble and conspicuous deeds which merit well
of Church and society, and to stimulate others to follow the illustrious
example set them. At first it comprised only two classes, knights of the first
class, who, upon receiving the decoration, were made nobles with hereditary
succession, and knights of the second class, whose title of nobility was
personal. Shortly after (17 June, 1849, "Cum hominum mentes") the order
was divided into four classes, viz.:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Knights of the Great Ribbon;
Commanders with the Badge;
Commanders, and
Knights.
Knights of the Great Ribbon wear a wide ribbon extending from the left shoulder saltier-wise to the
right side where from a rosette attached to the ribbon the star of the order is suspended. They also
wear on the breast the large badge set with diamonds. Commanders wear the decoration at the neck.
Commanders with the Badge, besides the star at the neck, wear a badge of smaller design than the
large plaque on the breast, and simple knights wear the star on the left breast. The decoration is an
eight-pointed blue enameled star. The spaces between the rays are filled in with undulating golden
flames. On the center is a white enameled medallion on which is engraved the words PIUS IX and