Harman Patil (Editor)

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Type
  
Order of knighthood

Established
  
3 March 1951

Status
  
Extant

Eligibility
  
Civilian and military divisions

Awarded for
  
Meritorious service or achievement

Next (lower)
  
Military Order of Italy

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. 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. The order effectively replaced as national orders 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).

Contents

Grades

Investiture takes place biannually on 2 June, anniversary of the foundation of the Republic and on 27 December, 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 (the union of the country) and Civium Libertati (the liberty of the people) encircling the head of Italia Turrita on the reverse. The five degrees with corresponding ribbons are as follows (with numbers to June 2013):

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.

Knights Grand Cross with Collar

Recipients:

  • Presidency of President Giorgio Napolitano (15 May 2006–14 January 2015):
  • 11/10/2006 –  Ghana – President John Agyekum Kufour (2001–2009)
  • 20/02/2007 –  Slovakia – President Ivan Gašparovič (2004–2014)
  • 08/06/2007 –  Austria – President Heinz Fischer (2004–incumbent)
  • 09/10/2007 –  Chile – President Michelle Bachelet (2006–2010; 2014–incumbent)
  • 30/10/2007 –  Saudi Arabia – King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud (2005–2015)
  • 01/09/2008 –  Finland – President Tarja Halonen (2000–2012)
  • 14/10/2008 –  Lebanon – President Michel Suleiman (2008–2014)
  • 27/10/2008 – – Prince and Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing (2008–incumbent)
  • 02/09/2009 –  South Korea – President Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013)
  • 17/10/2009 –  Turkey – President Abdullah Gül (2007–2014)
  • 11/03/2010 –  Syria – President Bashar Al-Assad (2000–incumbent) Revoked by the President of the Republic on 28 September 2012 for "indignity"
  • 26/04/2010 –  Kuwait – Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (2006–incumbent)
  • 25/06/2010 –  Malta – President George Abela (2009–2014)
  • 11/01/2011 –  Slovenia – President Danilo Türk (2007–2012)
  • 06/07/2011 –  Croatia – President Ivo Josipović (2010–2015)
  • 07/09/2011 –  Romania – President Traian Băsescu (2004–2014)
  • 10/06/2012 –  Poland – President Bronisław Komorowski (2010–2015)
  • 15/11/2012 –  France – President François Hollande (2012–incumbent)
  • 20/02/2013 –  Germany – President Joachim Gauck (2012–incumbent)
  • 04/03/2014 –  Albania – President Bujar Nishani (2011–incumbent)

    • References

    Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics