Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/628

Rh Sicily, where it continued its circumscribed existence until 1814, when it was again extended to Naples.

The Order was originally composed of only two classes; Knights of the Grand Cross, and Commanders. In 1810, however, a third class was added, that of Knights, consisting chiefly of Officers of all degrees who had distinguished themselves by valour, wise conduct or in any other way.

The reigning monarch is always Grand Master of the Order, and in him alone is vested the power of nomination. The number of the first class; is, by the statutes, limited to twenty-four, including the royal family; while that of the two other classes is unlimited.

The badge of the Order is a star formed of six bundles of golden rays, of six Bourbon lilies in the intervening angles, and a royal crown above it. The obverse shows upon a gold ground, the figure of St. Ferdinand in regal robe and mantle, with the crown upon his head, and holding a naked sword in his right, and a laurel crown in his left, hand. Round it, within a dark blue circle are in golden characters, the words: 'Fidei et Merito' (to fidelity and merit). The reverse of gold, contains the inscription: 'Fed. IV. inst. Anno 1800,' (Plate 84, Table 1. No. 4).

With the exception of the size which decreases with each inferior class, the star is the same with all the three classes. It is worn, by the first class, across the right shoulder towards the left hip, by a dark blue ribbon with red borders (the colours of the royal house), accompanied upon the left side of the breast by a star, the contents «of which being, with the exception of the colours, the same as those of the obverse of the Order (No. 3).

The costume consists, for novices or honorary members, of a coat, waistcoat and breeches, of drap d'or (cloth of gold,) of white silk stockings with golden lilies, and of a round