Civil Merit Order of St. Louis, Commander Breast Star
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.ITA.0106.104.01.000
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(Ordre Royal de Saint-Louis). Instituted 1849. An impressive and scarce decoration, consisting of a four armed silver gilt cross, each arm as an elongated stylized fleur-de-lys in white enamel on Gold affixed to cross base by four screw posts, obverse centre expertly fashioned in Gold, an enameled and hand painted effigy of a crowned Saint Louis upon a red enameled background, blue enameled surround with Gold Motto DEUS ET DIES (Gold and Days), reverse with heavily toned silver, pin assembly, measuring 63.5 mm (w) x 66 mm (h), better than extremely fine.
The Civil Merit Order of St. Louis was initially founded in the Duchy of Lucca in 1836 by Charles Louise (Charles II). His son, Charles III Duke of Parma, revived the Order at Parma, on August 11, 1849, as an award of merit.
The Parma branch of the Order was expanded to reward extraordinary merit within civil services and have five grades.
Membership to the Order was primarily restricted to noble Catholics but was open to Protestants in cases of extreme merit.
When a non-noble became the recipient of the Grand Cross or Commander grades they were bestowed with hereditary nobility. If they were the recipient of the I Class or II Class Knight grade, they were only granted with personal nobility that was withdrawn following their death.
The Grand Master of the Order, who was always the Duke of Parma, was the only member of the Order who was permitted to add brilliants to their awards.
The maximum membership numbers for each grade excluded reigning princes and foreigners.
The Commander and Commander Breast Star were restricted to a maximum of 30 members.
The Commander Breast Star is also known as the II Class Breast Star.
The Commander Breast Star features the same cross as the Grand Cross Breast Star, but it does not have any rays.
See the Civil Merit Order of St. Louis in the Orders of the Duchy of Lucca for more information.
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