Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/680

Rh Despite the stanch conservative principles adhered to by the Cortes, that august assembly thought it advisable to yield in this instance, at least, to public opinion. The old monopolies of the nobility, their exclusive possession of all the superior places in the army, navy and military schools, had already been abolished at an early period, while the old knightly orders were about to become so, owing to the extreme unpopularity of the nobility who were the sole owners of those decorations. The creation of new military rewards came then under the serious consideration of the Assembly. Government was resolved to substitute her new military decorations founded on real merit, love of independence and patriotism, for the old ones, which had become mercenary and were an article of traffic in the hands of the generals and local authorities. The new military Order of Merit was then founded and named after St. Ferdinand; it was made accessible to all military persons, whose real distinction and merit were testified by a Commission of Enquiry which was instituted for the purpose.

The badge consisted of a Grand Cross for Generals, a gold cross for officers, and a silver one for sub-officers and privates, the latter exchanging the silver for the gold, on promotion to epaulettes. Certain demonstrations of honour were connected with the Order, as also some pecuniary reward for repeated acts of distinction.

King Ferdinand VII., immediately after his return to his kingdom, declared himself head of the Order, and promulgated on the 10th July, 1815, the following regulations: The King is Chief and Grand Master of the Order: he alone nominates the Knights, who are divided into five classes. The first consists of officers up to the rank of Colonel, the second of officers of the same grade, who have distinguished themselves by heroic deeds; the third comprises Generals; the fourth Generals of prominent distinction; and the fifth, Generals, who, in their