Order of Saint Januarius

Order of Saint Januarius
Star and badge of the order
Awarded by the House of
Bourbon-Two Sicilies
TypeDynastic order
Established3 July 1738[1]
Country
MottoIN SANGUINE FOEDUS
(English: Union in Blood)
FounderCharles of Bourbon
Grand MasterDisputed:
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Next (lower)Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

Ribbon of the order

The Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius (Italian: Insigne Reale Ordine di San Gennaro) is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood founded in 1738 by Charles of Bourbon, king of Naples and Sicily (as Charles VII and III, respectively) from 1735 until 1759, and later king of Spain (1759–1788).

Named after saint Januarius, patron of Naples, it was the last great dynastic order to be constituted as a chivalric fraternity, with a limitation to Roman Catholics and a direct attachment to the dynasty rather than the state. Since 1960, the grand magistery of the order is disputed among claimants to the headship of the formerly reigning House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

Structure of the order

Originally, the order had four principal officers, whose duties were to administer its affairs:

  • Chancellor
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Master of Ceremonies

A reform of 17 August 1827, limited these duties to certain ceremonial roles at the installation of knights, and no successors were appointed to the then-holders of these offices.

The order today

Further information: Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Castro § Disputed succession; and Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro § Claimed headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Decoration with collar (left) and with sash and star (right)
Diego de Madariaga, 2nd Marquess of Villa-Fuerte wearing the mantle and insignia of the order

Since 1960, because of the succession dispute, the order has been awarded sparingly and total membership has not exceeded eighty, most of the knights being members of royal houses, senior officers of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, or Italian grandees.

As of 2025, the order continues to be awarded today by the two claimants to the headship of the royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria and Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro.

Members

As of 2016, the knights appointed by Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria, his father and grandfather, were:

As of 2014,[2] the knights appointed by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, his father and grandfather, were:

  • Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro and Grand Master
  • Antonio Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • Francesco Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • Gennaro Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • Luigi Alfonso Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • Alessandro Enrico Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • Casimiro Maria of Bourbon Two Sicilies
  • HMSH Fra' Matthew Festing, 80th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
  • Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
  • Jean, Count of Paris (19 March 2019, installed 13 May 2019)
  • Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino
  • Count Andrzej Ciechanowiecki +2015
  • Ambassador Count Carlo Marullo di Condojanni, Prince of Casalnuovo
  • Duke and Count Don Ferdinando Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona, Prince of Piedmont, Duke of Laurenzana, Count of Alife,
  • Duke Francesco d'Avalos, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Marquess of Pescara and Vasto
  • Prince Filippo Massimo, Prince of Arsoli and Duke of Anticoli Corrado
  • Prince Carlo Cito Filomarino, Prince of Rocca d'Aspro, Prince of Bitetto, Marquess of Torrecuso
  • Prince Gregorio Carafa Cantelmo Stuart, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince of Roccella, Duke of Bruzzano
  • Don Roberto Caracciolo, Duke of San Vito
  • Prince Giovanni Battista de' Medici, Prince of Ottajano, Duke of Casalnuovo

See also

References

  1. ^ Acton, Harold (2009) [1957]. The Bourbons of Naples (1731-1825). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-24901-5.
  2. ^ Web site of Constantinian Order
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