The Order of Merit of Savoy

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To reward various merits towards the House of Savoy, of both Italians and foreigners, on 23 January 1988, his Royal Highness Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy decided to create, in the Civil Order of Savoy, a dynastic Order of merit named Order of Merit of Savoy – divided like the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus – into the following ranks:

– Knights of Grand Cross, no more than one hundred;
– Dames of Grand Cross, no more than one hundred;
– Great Officers, no more than one hundred and fifty;
– Commanders. Who may be no more than three hundred;
– Dames Commander, no more than three hundred;
– Knight Officers, of an unspecified number;
– Knights, an unspecified number;
– Dames, an unspecified number.

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The Order decoration is a white-enamelled, full gold cross, loaded by a blue-enamelled, white shield, with the letters “V.E.” on one side and this inscription on the other: “To the Merit of Savoy 1988”. The blue silk ribbon with a great white pole, a turquoise cloth mantle, adjusted at the ruff by four cords with white and blue silk tassels and with the cross of the Order embroidered on the left side, in various sizes depending on rank.

As with the Order of the Crown of Italy until 1946, the Order of Merit of Savoy was entrusted to the Chancellery of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.