Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Investiture takes place twice a year – on 2 June, the anniversary of the foundation of the Republic, and on 27 December, the anniversary of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution. However, those awards on Presidential , related to termination of service or granted to foreigners, may be made at any time. The badge, modified in 2001, bears the inscription encircling the national coat of arms on the obverse and the Latin (for the union of the country) and (for the liberty of the citizens) encircling the head of Italia turrita on the reverse. The six degrees with corresponding ribbons are as follows (with numbers to 2 June 2020): The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Italian Republic, as head of the orders of knighthood, on the recommendation of the President of the Council of Ministers. Except in exceptional circumstances, no one can be awarded for the first time a rank higher than Knight. The minimum age requirement is normally 35. The Knight Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to heads of state. == Recipients ==

Grand Cross with Collar • Presidency of Luigi Einaudi (12 May 1948 – 11 May 1955): • Presidency of Giovanni Gronchi (11 May 1955 – 11 May 1962): • Presidency of Antonio Segni (11 May 1962 – 6 December 1964): • Presidency of Giuseppe Saragat (29 December 1964 – 29 December 1971): • Presidency of Giovanni Leone (29 December 1971 – 15 June 1978): • Presidency of Sandro Pertini (9 July 1978 – 29 June 1985): • Presidency of Francesco Cossiga (3 July 1985 – 28 April 1992): • Presidency of Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (25 May 1992 – 15 May 1999): • Presidency of Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (18 May 1999 – 15 May 2006): • Presidency of Giorgio Napolitano (15 May 2006 – 14 January 2015): • 'Presidency of Sergio Mattarella (3 February 2015–incumbent): ' == Wearer's guide ==

File:Divisa.OMRI.1.png|Wearer's guide for each grade (1951–2001) File:Divisa.OMRI.2.png|Wearer's guide for each grade (2001–present) == Gallery ==

File:OrdMeritRepubbItal.JPG|Comparison of the pre-2001 (at left) and the (at right) badges of the Order File:Collection of all Orders of Merit of the Italian Republic (Pre-2001).jpg|All grades of the Order (pre-2001) File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - All Grades.jpg|Five grades of the Order File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight and Document (Pre-2001).jpg|The pre-2001 grades of the Order File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - All five grades sets (Pre-2001).jpg|Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross grades File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Knight & Officer sets (Pre-2001).png|Knights and Officer Classes of the Order File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Knight and Officer grades (Pre-2001).png|Knight 5th Class and Officer 4th Class grades File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Knight & Officer (Pre-2001).png|Sets of the Knight and Officer classes File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Commander grade (Pre-2001).png|Commander 3rd Class of the Order File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Commander (Pre-2001).png|Commander set in case File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Commander set (Pre-2001).png|3rd Class set of the Order File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Grand Officer set (Pre-2001).png|Bestowal document of a Grand Officer grade with the insignia File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Grand Officer (Pre-2001).png|Grand Officer set of insignia with the bestowal document File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Grand Cross set.png|Grand Cross set of insignia File:Italy - Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Grand Cross (Pre-2001).png|The Grand Cross grade of the Order in case of issue File:Order of Merit of the Italian Republic grand cross collar badge (Italy 1954-1960) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Collar of the Order (pre-2001) == See also ==