Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/622

 THE TWO SICILIES.

ORDER OF ST. JANUARIUS.

This Order was founded by King Charles of Sicily (afterwards King Charles III. of Spain), on the 6th July, 1738, on the occasion of his marriage with the Princess Amelia, daughter of King Augustus III. of Poland.

The reigning Kings of Sicily are Grand Masters of the Order, which consists of only one class; and he nominates the Knights, whose number is now unlimited, though it was originally fixed at sixty.

After the invasion of Naples by the French in 1806, the Order was abolished in that kingdom, though it continued to flourish in Sicily, whither Ferdinand had fled; and it was reintroduced into both countries, on the return of the fugitive Prince in 1814.

The badge of the Order is a gold octagonal white and red enamelled cross (Plate 84, Tab. I. No. 2), with golden lilies in the upper and side angles. The obverse represents the patron saint of the Order, St. Januarius, in episcopal garments, and with an open book in the left hand. The round middle of the reverse shows a golden open book and two phials partly filled with blood.

This cross is worn across the right shoulder, towards the left hip, by a broad poppy red ribbon, accompanied on the left