- Time Period: Pre World War I
- Institution: c. 1362
- Country: Italy (Kingdom of Sardinia)
The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (or Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata in Italian) is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood, originating in Savoy.
It was the pinnacle of the honors system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946.
The origins of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation begin in 1362, when Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy (1343-1383) instituted the order’s earliest designation, under the title of Order of the Collar. Even at this time, the order was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is celebrated as “Our Lady of the Annunciation.” Thus, the order is a dynastic religious (or Catholic) order of chivalry. Under its first formulation, the order had fifteen knights.
Today, the order holds the following other regulations:
- The number of knights of the Supreme Order of the most Holy Annunciation shall be, as in the past, twenty.
- The right to appoint knights and officers of the Order appertains exclusively to the Sovereign Head. Nevertheless, when there are vacancies, the Sovereign Head meets with the Chapter of knights to hear their advice on the proposal of candidates whom he alone may select.
- The knights shall be chosen from distinguished individuals in recognition of their eminent services in high military positions, as well as from those who have distinguished themselves in senior positions in the civil service, and from those who, as private citizens have brought distinction upon Italy as exemplary benefactors of the Nation or of Mankind, or have rendered particularly noteworthy services to the Royal House of Savoy.
- Knights must have already been awarded the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
- Knights must be Catholic. In rare occasions, a non-Catholic may be awarded the order. However, they may only be honorary members of the order.
The order has only one class, i.e. Knight. The full Italian title is Cavaliere dell’Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata.
The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Design
Although the order has only one class, it has two sets of insignia, the Piccola Collana and the Grande Collana. The two hold similar designs, though the Grande Collana has some different features than the Piccola Collana and is worn only on the most special of occasions.
The insignia of the order has the following regulations:
- The large collar (Grande Collana) is worn on the first day of the year, on the feast of the Most Holy Annunciation, and on all of the principal national holidays and at important royal functions.
- The small collar (Piccola Collana) is worn on every other occasion which necessitates the display of order insignia.
- Knights also wear, on the left breast, a star badge bearing the image of Holy Mary of the Annunciation.
Today, the order continues as a dynastic order under the jurisdiction of the Head of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, who is the order’s hereditary Sovereign and Grand Master.
