The Italian honours system is a means to reward achievements or service to the Italian Republic, formerly the Kingdom of Italy, including the Italian Social Republic.

Orders of chivalry

Italian Republic There are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods. The degrees of knighthood, not all of which apply to all orders, are Knight (Cavaliere abbreviated Cav.), Officer (Ufficiale abbreviated Uff.), Commander (Commendatore abbr. Comm.), Grand Officer (Grand'Ufficiale, abbr. Gr. Uff.), Knight Grand Cross (Cavaliere di Gran Croce, abbr. Cav. Gr. Croce) and Knight Grand Cross with cordon (Cavaliere di Gran Croce con cordone).

Italian citizens may not use within the territory of the Republic honours or distinctions conferred on them by non-national orders or foreign states, unless authorised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The use of awards of the Holy See (including the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre) is to be authorized by Presidency of the Council of Ministers, while the use of those of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, enjoying formal recognition in Italy, do not need any authorization to boast.

The Royal House of Savoy, Italy's former Royal Family, also continues to bestow knighthoods in three orders of chivalry previously recognised by the Kingdom of Italy. In fact, Umberto II, the last King of Italy did not abdicate, and so he preserved his fons honorum: today the Grand Mastership of the orders remain under the prerogatives of Head of the House of Savoy, claimed between Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice and Aimone, Duke of Aosta. Today these continue merely as dynastic orders of the Royal House in exile. While their bestowal is suppressed by law in Italy, the use of those decorations conferred prior to 1951 is recognised, exclusive of any right of precedence in official ceremonies.Law No. 178 of 3 March 1951 Istituzione dell'Ordine "Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" e disciplina del conferimento e dell'uso delle onorificenze (Institution of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and discipline of the conferment and the use of honours), published in Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 73, 30 March 1951 (in Italian). However the Savoy orders, are theoretically recognized by the Holy See amongst others, for example the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus were recognized by papal bull of Pope Gregory XIII, where he bestowed upon Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and his Savoy successors, the right to confer this knighthood in perpetuity.

The House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies additionally continues to bestow knighthoods, including the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George which is fully recognised by the Italian republic. Also the Houses of Bourbon-Parma and Habsburg-Tuscany continues to do so. Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (OMRI), instituted in 1951, is the highest ranking honour and most senior order of the Republic. It is awarded in five degrees 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. Save in exceptional circumstances, no one may be awarded a rank higher than Knight in the first instance. Three well-known exceptions are for the musician Luciano Pavarotti, who was first awarded a Commander in 1976,Le Onorificenze: Luciano Pavarotti (in Italian) Erol Gelenbe the Turkish and French Computer Scientist who was awarded a Commander in 2005, and the Conductor Claudio Abbado, who was awarded a Knight Grand Cross in 1984.Le Onorificenze: Claudio Abbado (in Italian).

Investiture normally takes place on 2 June, the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic (celebrated in Italy as Festa della Repubblica) and on 27 December, the anniversary of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution. The badge bears the inscription Al Merito della Repubblica encircling the national emblem on the obverse and Patriae Unitati and Civium Libertati encircling the head of Italia Turrita on the reverse. 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. Military Order of Italy The Ordine Militare d'Italia, until 1947 the Military Order of Savoy (1815),Founded by Letters Patent dated 14 August 1815, renewed by Royal Decree on 27 September 1855 and 28 March 1857. 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.Under Legislative Decree of the Provisional Head of State No. 15 of 2 June 1947, renewed by Law No. 199 of 27 March 1952. The badge bears the inscription Al Merito Militare—1855; the Savoy cross and letters V.E. substituted with R.I. and 1947, the date of the promulgation of the constitution.

The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence. Today there are just 14 living recipients. The associated Medal of Military Valour, established in 1932, is subdivided into gold, silver and bronze categories.Royal Decree No. 1423(1) of 4 November 1932 Medaglia e Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare, published in Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 261, 2 November 1932 (in Italian). Order of Merit for Labour The Ordine al Merito del Lavoro is awarded to those "who have been singularly meritorious" in agriculture, commerce and industry. It was first instituted by Royal Decree on 9 May 1901, replacing the Ordine Cavalleresco al Merito Agrario, Industriale e Commerciale which had been created by Royal Decree on 1 March 1898.Revived by Law No. 199 of 27 March 1952. The order is open to all Italians, at home and overseas. Each year, on 1 June 25 new Knights of Labour are invested. The badge bears the inscription Al Merito del Lavoro—1901.

The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Economic Development (successor to the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship). The associated Star of Merit for Labour, established in 1923,Established by Royal Decree No. 3167 of 30 December 1923, renewed by Law No. 316(1) of 1 March 1967. confers the title of Master of Labour.Law No. 316(1) of 1 March 1967 Nuove norme per la concessione della "Stella al merito del lavoro" (New rules for the concession of the Star of Merit for Labour), published in Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 133, 29 May 1967 (in Italian). Order of the Star of Italy The Ordine della Stella d'Italia (OSI) was originally instituted in 1947 as the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, to recognise those expatriates and foreigners who made an outstanding contribution to the reconstruction of Italy after World War II.Instituted by Decree Law of the Provisional Head of State No. 703 of 27 January 1947, amended by Decree Law No. 812 of 9 March 1948. The badge bears the inscription Solidarietà Italiana encircling a depiction of the Good Samaritan. The order is bestowed in three degrees by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2011, it was reformed and the emphasis shifted to the preservation and promotion of national prestige abroad.Law No. 13 of 3 February 2011 Modifiche ed integrazioni al decreto legislativo 9 marzo 1948, n. 812, recante nuove norme relative all'Ordine della Stella della solidarieta' italiana (Changes and additions to Legislative Decree No. 812 of 9 March 1948 establishing new rules for the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity), published in Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 49, 1 March 2011 (in Italian). Order of Vittorio VenetoThe Ordine di Vittorio Veneto was instituted with a single rank of Knight in 1968, "to express the gratitude of the nation" to those decorated with the Cross of War who had fought for at least six months in World War I and earlier conflicts.Instituted by Law No. 263 of 18 March 1968. A small annuity was granted in favour of those recipients who did not enjoy an income above their tax allowance. The order was bestowed by decree of the President of the Republic, head of the order, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defence. Lying dormant, it was formally abolished in 2010.Legislative Decree No. 66 of 15 March 2010 Codice dell'ordinamento militare (Code of Military Ordinances) Article 2268 para. 596, published in Ordinary Supplement No. 84 of Gazzetta Ufficiale No. 106, 8 March 2010 (in Italian).

The Kingdom of Italy The Sardinian orders of the Most Holy Annunciation, of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and the Military and Civil orders of Savoy were continued on the unification of Italy in 1861. These were augmented during the Liberal period by the Order of the Crown of Italy, the Chivalrous Order of Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial Merit, the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy and later, by the Civil and Military Order of the Roman Eagle. In contrast to the Republican orders, the feminine style Dama is used for women.

The Knight Bachelor, usually transmitted by male primogeniture, was similar to a British baronetcy but older. These Cavaliere Ereditario were not, however, members of an order of chivalry. Supreme Order of the Most Holy AnnunciationThe origins of the Ordine supremo della Santissima Annunziata date from 1362, when Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, instituted the Order of the Collar, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus before being admitted. The highest ranking honour of the Kingdom of Italy and limited to 20 Knights; it continues to be awarded by the Sovereign Head of the order, the head of the House of Savoy, in recognition of "eminent services in high military positions, to those who have distinguished themselves in senior positions in the civil service and to those who, as private citizens, have brought distinction upon Italy as exemplary benefactors of the nation or of mankind or have rendered particularly noteworthy services to the former Royal house."Statutes of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (trans. Louis A.M. Mendola) 1409, most recently revised 3 June 1869. Retrieved 28 February 2010. Military and Religious Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusThe Ordine militare e religioso dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro was formed in 1572 by a union of the original Order of Saint Maurice (1434) and the Italian foundation of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem (1142).Instituted by Papal Bull of the Supreme Pontiff Pope Gregory XIII on 16 September and 13 November 1572. Eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of the Crown of Italy in at least the same degree before being admitted. The order continues to be awarded by its Grand Master, for "significant contributions to science, literature, the arts, industry, trade, scholarship and research, the liberal arts, the professions, public service and other worthy fields of endeavour, which bring honour and greatness to the House of Savoy and benefits to humanity."Statutes of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (trans.) 1572, most recently revised 30 October 1999. Retrieved 28 February 2010.