The Royal and Military Order of
Saint Hermenegild (Full Size),
Knight
José O’Donnell Anethan with the Order of Saint Hermenegild, Grand Cross Star
Source: Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia
Source: Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia
Item number: M43
Year: AD 1814-1879
Material: Gold and Enamel
Size: order 50 x 30.13 / ribbon 50.32 x 31.37 mm
Weight: 13.46 g
Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022
In AD 1814, after the end of the Peninsular War, the restored Ferdinand VII proposed a new regulation for the San Fernando Order and announced the establishment of a new decoration to reward outstanding military performance on the battlefield. This proposal originated from the personal will of the king, and the new decoration was named after Saint Hermenegild, the patron saint of the Spanish army—a 6th-century figure who resisted his father, the Visigothic king, for the sake of his faith. Thus, the the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild (Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo) was established to commemorate this saint and to inspire and commend military personnel who demonstrated remarkable performance in battle.
The monarch of Spain is the Sovereign of the Order. The Order is governed by three governing bodies: the Chapter, the Permanent Assembly and the Chancellery. The Order comprises a total of four grades, with the first three ranks conferred in the form of a star-shaped medal, while only the lowest rank, the Knight, is awarded as a breast badge. (See table)
| The grades of Order |
| Grand Cross Star |
| Commander star |
| Star |
| Knight badge |
This item is a basic Knight’s class Order, featuring a white enamel-painted Maltese cross with a suspended crown symbolizing the royal family. During the Second Spanish Republic in AD 1931, which compelled the abdication of the Spanish monarchy, the Republican government temporarily removed the royal title and the suspend crown from the decoration. Subsequently, under the Franco regime, which emerged victorious in the Spanish Civil War, the previous specifications were reinstated in AD 1951.
A golden portrait of Saint Hermenegild is set against a navy blue enamel background, on the central circular shield of the obverse side. Encircled by a light blue circular border with a gold edge, this shield bears the legend “Award for Military Constancy” (PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR). On the reverse side of the gold circular shield, Ferdinand VII’s royal emblem “F.VII.” is engraved. The ribbon of the medal is made of white silk, featuring a wide peach-colored stripe in the middle and narrow stripes in the same colour on each side. At the top of the ribbon is a brass pin for secure attachment to the left chest.
騎士級聖赫爾梅內吉爾德
皇家軍事勳章(官方版)
物件編號: M43
年代: 公元 1814-1879 年
材質: 黃金, 琺瑯
尺寸: 勳章 50 x 30.13 / 綬帶 50.32 x 31.37 mm
重量: 13.46 g
來源: 利物浦獎章 2022
公元1814年，半島戰爭結束後，復辟的斐迪南七世在討論聖斐迪南勳章的新規範時提出，同時宣告創立一個新的勳章，以獎勵在戰場上表現傑出的官兵。這個提議是出自國王個人意願，該新勳章以西班牙軍隊的守護神聖赫爾梅內吉爾德的名字命名，這位守護神是公元六世紀時一位為了信仰而抵抗父親的西哥德王國王子。因此，成立了聖赫爾梅內吉爾德勳章(Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo)，以紀念這位聖人，同時激勵和表揚那些在戰場上顯著表現的軍事人員。
西班牙君主會是該騎士團的最高統治者。該騎士團由三個理事機構管理：分會、常設大會和總理府。該勳章總共有四個等級，前三級以星章的形式頒發，僅有最低階的騎士級以胸綬勳章發放。(見下圖)
| 勳章的級別： |
| 大十字星章 |
| 指揮官星章 |
| 星章 |
| 騎士級勳章 |
