Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/50

20 its first distribution took place at Milan on the 12th February, 1816—the birth-day of the Emperor. The order then received the name: ' Austrian Order of the Iron Crown,' and by the statutes published on the same day, it was provided, that—

1. The function of Grand Master should be inseparably vested in the Imperial Crown of Austria, and the nomination of members solely dependent on the will of the Emperor.

2. No one should be allowed to claim or petition for the Order.

3. The Knights to be divided into three classes, without any further distinction beyond that of the number, which was limited for the first class to twenty, the second to thirty, and the third to fifty, exclusive of the princes of the Imperial House.

4. All individuals of merit and distinction to be eligible for the Order.

The decoration of the previous Order was abolished, and that of the new one (Plate 5. Tab. II. No. 13) now consists of a golden crown (of the same form as the Iron Crown), upon which is placed the Austrian eagle on both sides, bearing on the obverse a blue scutcheon upon the breast, with the letter F (Francis) in it, and on the reverse the year 1816 (the year of its foundation).

The Knights, of the first class, wear the decoration across the right shoulder suspended by a broad gold-yellow ribbon with dark blue borders, in addition to a star, embroidered in silver, on the left side of the breast, the centre of which contains the Iron Crown, and round the blue edge are inscribed the words: 'Avita et Aucta' (Ancient and extended). (Plate 5. Tab. II. No. 12);

On solemn occasions the decoration is worn by a gold chain round the neck, the links of which consist alternately of the letters in monogram 'F, P.,' the Iron Crown, and a wreath of oak leaves. (Plate 6. Tab. ITI. No. 16).