S$& ITALY. 



the king of Naples. AH the knights must prove the nobility of their 

 descent for four centuries, and are to be addressed by the title of ex- 

 cellency. St. Januarius, the celebrated patron of Naples, is the patron 

 of this order. The " order of Annunciation" was instituted in the 

 year 1355, by Amadeus V, count of Savoy, in memory of Amadeus I, 

 who bravely defended Rnodes against the Turks, and won those arms 

 which are now borne by the dukes of Savoy : " gules, a cross argent." 

 It is counted among the most respectable orders in Europe : the 

 knight must be of a noble family, but also a catholic. In the year 

 1572, Emanuel Philibert, duke of Savoy, instituted the "order of St. 

 Lazarus," and revived and united to it the obsolete order of St. Mau- 

 rice ; which was confirmed by the pope, on condition of maintaining 

 two gallies against the Turks. 



In the year 828, it is pretended that the body of St. Mark was re- 

 moved from Alexandria, in Egypt, to Venice. Accordingly, this saint 

 was taken for their tutelar saint and guardian, and his picture was 

 formerly painted on their ensigns and banners. When the " order of 

 St Mark" was first instituted is uncertain, but it was an honour con- 

 ferred by the doge or duke of Venice and the senate, on persons of 

 eminent quality, or who had done some signal service to the republic. 

 The knights, when made, if present, were dubbed with a sword on . 

 their shoulders, the duke saying " Esto miles Jidelis" (be a faithful 

 soldier.) Absent persons were invested by letters patent; but their 

 title, " Knights of St. Mark," is merely honorary : they have no re- 

 venue, nor are they under any obligations by vows as other orders. 

 About the year 1460, Frederick III, emperor of Germany, instituted 

 the " order of St. George," and dedicated it to St. George, tutelar 

 saint and patron of Genoa. The doge was perpetual grand-master. 

 The badge, a plain cross enamelled, gules, pendent to a gold chain, 

 and worn about their necks. The cross is also embroidered on their 

 cloaks. In the year 1561, Casimir of Medicis, first grand duke of 

 Tuscany, instituted the " order of St. Stephen," in memory of a vic- 

 tory which secured to him the sovereignty of that province. He and 

 his successors were to be grand-masters. The knights are allowed 

 to marry, and their two principal conventual houses are at Pisa. It 

 is a religious as well as military order, but the knights of justice and 

 the ecclesiastics are obliged to make proof of nobility of four de- 

 scents. They wear a red cross with right angles, orled or, on the left 

 side of their habit, and on their mantle. 



The " order of the Holy Ghost" was founded with their chief seat, 

 the hospital of that name in Rome, by pope Innocent III, about the 

 year 1198. They have a grand-master, and profess obedience, chas- 

 tity, and poverty. Their revenue is estimated at 24,000 ducats daily, 

 with which they entertain strangers, relieve the poor, and train up 

 deserted children, Sec. Their ensign is a white patriarchal cross with, 

 twelve points, sewed on their breast on the left side of a black mantle. 

 The "order of Jesus Christ," instituted by pope John XXII, was re- 

 formed and improved by pope Paul V. The reigning pope was to be 

 always sovereign of it, and it was designed as a mark of distinction for 

 the pope's Italian nobility ; but on account of its frequent prostitution, 

 it has fallen into discredit. The " order of the Golden Spur" is said 

 to have been instituted by pope Pius IV, 1559, and to have been con- 

 nected with the " order of Pius," instituted a year afterwards ; but 

 the badges were different. The knights of Pius are suppressed, and 

 all that the knights of the Golden Spur have preserved to themselves. 



