History

The Order was founded by Victor Emmanuel II to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was the first national Order instituted after the unification of the Kingdom of Italy.

This Order was conferred upon Italians and foreign citizens, regardless of religious affiliations, who had rendered extraordinary service to the Kingdom of Italy and the Sovereign within military and civil realms.

From 1911 onward, the Order of the Crown of Italy was a prerequisite to becoming a member of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus.

It was officially suppressed after the fall of the Monarchy in 1946, yet King Umberto II awarded it as a House Order until his death in 1983. The Republic instituted the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic to replace this Order in 1951.

The King of Italy was always the Grand Master of the Order.

The Order is also known as the Order of the Iron Crown.

The Grand Cross grade was restricted to 60 recipients.