Order of Saint George of the Reunion | |
Awarded By: | the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies |
Type: | Dynastic order |
For: | Military valor and merit |
Established: | 1 January 1819 |
Head Title: | Grand Master |
Founder: | Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies |
Higher: | Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies |
Lower: | Royal Order of Francis I |
The Order of Saint George of the Reunion is an order of knighthood of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was established to replace the Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies.[1]
It was created on 1 January 1819 by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies to reward military valor and merit. It received its name to celebrate the reunification of Naples and Sicily into one kingdom after the Congress of Vienna.
The dynastic dispute within the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies means the position of Grand Master is disputed between Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria and Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro. The head of the Spanish branch, Prince Pedro, considers this Order to be dormant and it is no longer awarded.
During the time of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Order was divided into the following grades:
The badge of the Order is a red enameled lilied cross with in the middle a white enameled round plate bearing the image of a mounted St. George running the dragon through with his sword, bordered by a circle of blue enamel with the inscription "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" and a laurel wreath.
The decoration of the Knights of Grand Cross has a golden image of St. George hanging down from the lower arm of the cross; the Royal Crown tops it.