Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/414

 PARMA (GRAND DUCHY),

ORDER OF ST. CONSTANTINE,

(ALSO CALLED, AFTER ITS FOUNDER, 'ORDER OF ST. ANGELICUS, AND SOMETIMES ' ORDER OF ST. GEORGE.)

This Order lays claim to the earliest antiquity. Tradition asserts that it was instituted under Constantine the Great, while sober history curtails 800 years from its pretended age, and assigns its origin to the year 1190, giving, as its founder, the Eastern Emperor, Isaac Angelas Comnenas, who lent to it the name of Constantine, (the Comnenas race professed to derive their descent from him), and also that of St. George, it's Patron Saint.

The rules were formed after those of St. Basilius, and the Order rapidly acquired so many members, that it was found necessary to establish in all parts of Christendom Vicar-Generals to manage its concerns and possessions which increased from day to day, by the legacies of 100 crowns, which every Knight was bound to bequeath to it.

The members were divided into secular and spiritual, and these again into officials and dignitaries (Grand Priors, Priors, &c.) and into Knights. The candidates were originally bound to prove their noble descent through four generations; but after the repulse of the Comneni by the Turks, they