Item number: M165

Year: AD 1869-1946

Material: Gold, Silver and Enamel

The results after XRF testing

Size: order 63.8 x 71.4 x9.0 / star 84.5 x 85.4 x 18.6 mm

Weight: 29.25 / 86.7 g

Manufactured by: E. Gardino Succ. Cravanzola Roma, Rome

Provenance: Dixons Medals 2022

In AD 1869, the ruling Savoy royal family of the Kingdom of Italy merged the long-standing Orders of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus to establish the kingdom’s second highest honour, the “Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus,” comprising a total of five ranks.(See Table)

The Knight Grand Cross rank of the Order is worn with a sash, and the overall design of the order reflects its rich historical heritage. The green enamel Maltese cross, derived from the Order of Saint Lazarus, and the white Treflè cross, inherited from the Order of Saint Maurice, are prominently displayed on the order. The appearance and decorations on both sides of the order are identical. Above the trefoil cross, there is a golden ball decoration, and the order is attached with a ring suspension to the rosette at the green apple green sash.

The Knight Grand Cross rank also includes a breast star, which features diamond-cut silver rays that complement the green Maltese cross and white Treflè cross. In the centre of the reverse of the star, there is the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy, surrounded by the Italian inscription “E. Gardino Succ. Cravanzola Roma,” which is the name of the manufacturer. In AD 1850, Gardino was established in the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Turin, and before the unification of Italy, it assisted the House of Savoy in creating jewellery and decorations. After the unification of Italy in AD 1861, the headquarters also moved to the new capital, Rome, and to this day, they continue to maintain their business in manufacturing medals.

The Order of Saint Lazarus was founded during the Crusades in the Holy Land of Jerusalem, with the primary mission of caring for leprosy patients. After the Crusades, the Order gradually returned to the Italian Peninsula and was incorporated under the patronage of the Savoy Dukes. Saint Maurice, on the other hand, is the patron saint of the Savoy Duchy, and legend has it that this black African leader martyred himself by refusing to obey the Roman emperor’s orders to suppress Christians. In AD 1434, Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy, upon his retirement, established the Order in the name of Saint Maurice. This is why, in the mid-19th century, the Savoy family, upon founding the Kingdom of Italy, held Saint Maurice and Lazarus in such high esteem.

Since AD 1869, the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus has been considered a national honour in Italy. In AD 1929, regulations were further established regarding the annual allocation of the various ranks of the Order. It wasn’t until AD 1946, after the Kingdom of Italy was transformed into a republic through a referendum, that the status of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus as a national honour officially ended. However, the Order continued to be awarded as a private distinction by the House of Savoy, with members of the Order spread across various regions including the Americas and Europe.

物件編號: M165

年代: 公元 1869-1946 年

材質: 黃金, 銀和琺瑯

XRF分析結果

尺寸: 獎章 63.8 x 71.4 x9.0 / 星章 84.5 x 85.4 x 18.6 mm

重量: 29.25 / 86.7 g

製造地: 加迪諾珠寶行，羅馬

來源: 迪生獎章 2022

這是公元1869年，統率義大利王國的薩伏伊王室，將歷史悠久的「聖莫里斯」、「聖拉撒路」兩個騎士團合併後，創立王國第二等殊榮的「聖莫里斯和拉撒路勳章」，總計有五個等級。(見下表)

大騎士十字級勳章以大綬方式配戴，勳章整體外觀充分展現其傳承歷史，綠色琺瑯彩繪的馬爾他十字架來自聖拉撒路騎士團，白色三葉草十字架則沿襲自聖莫里斯騎士團，勳章兩面的外觀和裝飾完全相同。三葉草十字架的上方有一個金球裝飾，並以一個環形懸掛銜接於青蘋果綠色大綬帶的蝴蝶結處。

大騎士十字級亦有一枚配戴於胸前的星章，以切割為鑽石質感的銀質射線映襯綠色馬爾他十字架和白色三葉草十字架。星章的背面中央刻有義大利王國國徽外，圓圈環繞的義大利文「E. Gardino Succ. Cravanzola Roma」是製造商的名字。公元1850年，加迪諾珠寶行成立於薩丁尼亞王國的首都杜林，在義大利統一前即協助薩伏伊王室打造珠寶和勳章。公元1861年，義大利統一後總部也搬遷至新首都羅馬，迄今仍維繫獎章製造的業務。

聖拉撒路騎士團是十字軍東征時期，創立於聖地耶路薩冷旨在照料痲瘋病患的騎士團。十字軍東征結束後，退回義大利半島的聖拉撒路騎士團逐漸被薩伏伊公爵納入旗下。聖莫里斯則是薩伏伊公爵領地的守護神，傳說這位黑人將領因不願遵守羅馬皇帝鎮壓基督徒的命令而殉難。公元1434年薩伏伊公爵阿梅迪奧八世在退休後，以聖莫里斯之名創建騎士團。上述便是公元19世紀中，薩伏伊家族創建的義大利王國如此推崇聖莫里斯和拉撒路的原因。

公元1869年起，該勳章就作為義大利的國家榮耀。公元1929年，進一步針對各級勳章的年度頒發數量制定規範。直到公元1946年，義大利王國經過公投改制為共和國後，聖莫里斯和拉撒路勳章作為國家的榮耀資格方才告一段落。但勳章仍作為薩伏伊家族的私人獎勵頒發，該騎士團成員橫跨美洲和歐洲等地。