Historically, the knights were divided into: •
Knights of Justice: Required to prove nobility of eight great-grandparents. •
Knights of Grace: Not required to provide proof of nobility. In 1851, Victor Emmanuel II abolished the category of Justice. Today, women can be appointed as
Dames, and a new category of
Knights and Dames of Devotion was introduced in 1988. The Grand Master may also appoint hereditary
jus patronatus Commanders of Merit. All knights were traditionally required to take three vows: obedience to the Grand Master; fidelity within marriage (
castità almeno conjugale); and service to the sick and poor. In 1831, these vows became facultative.
Grades Originally, the order was divided into Knights Petit Cross and Knights Grand Cross, the latter worn at the neck, the former on the chest. The
Commendatori, who owned a
commandery, weren't bestowed with a specific insignia. In 1831, Charles Albert of Sardinia divided the order into three classes: • Knight Grand Cross with the Grand Cordon • Knight Commander • Knight Since 1855, the Order is divided into five classes for the Knights (male members): •
Knight Grand Cordon, who wear a sash on the right shoulder to the left hip and the badge as well as star are worn on the left side; •
Grand Officer, who wear a necklet plus the star on the left chest; •
Commander, who wear a necklet; •
Officer, who wear a medal in Gold on the left side of the chest; •
Knight, who wear a smaller Medal in Silver on the left side of the chest. For female members the Order is divided into in three classes: •
Dame Grand Cordon, wearing a sash similar to that of their male counterparts •
Dame Commander, who wear on a necklet. During daydress: wear a bow-formed necklet worn on the left side of the chest. During evening wear: bow formed necklet worn on the left side of the chest) •
Dame, who wear a smaller necklet; During daydress and evening wear: bow formed medal worn on the left side of the chest Special Class of the Order: •
Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class, For the Grand Master of the Order; who wear a sash on the right shoulder to the left hip, the badge as well as star which is worn on the left side of the stomach are in
Brilliants Insignia of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus • The
badge of the order is in
gilt, consists of a white-enameled
cross bottony of the Order of Saint Maurice, with a green-enameled
Maltese Cross, the Cross of the Order of Saint Lazarus, placed in
saltire between the arms of the cross botonny. The badge of each class except that of Knight and Dame is topped by a gilt crown. • The
star of the Order is a silver-faceted star, with eight points for Grand Cross and four points for Grand Officer, and with the badge (minus the crown) superimposed upon it. • The
breast cross for the "jus patronatus" Commander is identical to the badge, minus the crown. • The
ribbon of the Order is apple green, with slight variations for the several classes:
Council The council is responsible for running the order, the order focuses mainly on charitable acts. Until 1831, it was composed of the First Secretary of the Grand Magistracy (not to be confused with the Secretary of the Council itself), the Auditor General and seven dignitaries (
Grandati): •
Grand Prior, a
clergyman with
episcopal rank as the •
Grand Admiral, the commander of the order's navy •
Grand Marshal, the commander of the order's land forces • Grand Hospitaller, administrator of the order's hospitals • Grand Conservator, administrator of the order's estates • Grand Chancellor, head of the order's
chancery • Grand
Treasurer In 1831, the offices of Grand Admiral and Grand Marshal were abolished since the absence of an army. In 1851, the offices of Grand Conservator and Grand Chancellor where merged with the office of the First Secretary of the Grand Magistracy and the Grand Treasurer got renamed as Treasurer General, who also served as Vice Chairman of the council. The other nine members, among them an annual Chairman of the council, who replaced the Grand Prior, where chosen by the Grand master. From 1861 to 1946, the council also served as the council of the
Order of the Crown of Italy. Today, some of the old offices are re-established. • Chairman:
Vacant • Vice Chairman: Antonio d’Amelio • Grand Chancellor: Theo Niederhauser • Grand Treasurer: Nicolas Gagnebin • Grand Prior: Monsignor Paolo de Nicolò • Grand Master of Ceremonies:
Prof. Alberto Bochicchio •
H.S.H. Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz •
H.S.H. Don Alessandro Jacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi Altemps •
Don Giancarlo Melzi d’Eril dei Duchi di Lodi •
Don Carlo Buffa dei Conti di Perrero – Honorary Member
Junta The Junta is responsible for voting in new
Knight or
Dame to the dynastic order on behalf of the grand master,
Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice. There are always five members of the Junta to ensure that there is never an equal count in votes for and against a new possible new
Knight or
Dame. •
H.S.H. Don Alessandro Jacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi Altemps – President •
Don Paolo Thaon di Revel Vandini – Secretary •
Don Enrico Sanjust dei Baroni di Teulada • Gualtiero Ventura • Federico Pizzi == List of Grand Masters ==