Royal Order of Francis I
Breast Star of the Order
Awarded by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Type	Previously a State Order, Currently a Dynastic Order
Established	28 September 1829
Motto	MERITO DE REGE OPTIME
Awarded for	Civil and military merit and services to industry, agriculture, and the arts to the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint George of the Reunion
Ribbon of the Order

The Royal Order of Francis I (properly 'The Royal Order of Francis I of the Two Sicilies' Italian: Reale Ordine di Francesco I) was an extinct order of merit of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies which was annexed in 1861 by the King of Italy (until 1860 King of Piedmont and Sardinia). It has been revived by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, as an award for services to charity and inter-religious understanding and includes a number of non-Roman Catholic statesmen and stateswomen among its membership.

History

The Royal Order of Francis I was founded on 28 September 1829 as an award of civil merit in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies for distinction in public service, science, the arts, agriculture, industry and commerce.

Although the order was a State Order and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ceased to exist in 1860, the Order continued to be awarded by the exiled King Francis II and his brother and successor Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta, although the latter did so for the last time in 1920, since they were still claiming all the prerogatives of the crown. His successor as head of the Dynasty, Prince Ferdinand Pius, Duke of Calabria who was head of the family from 1934-1960 accepted the de facto existence of the Italian State and abandoned an active pretension to the throne, considering the order to be abeyance. The latter's nephew, Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, and great-nephew Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria continued this policy, as has the latter's son and heir.

Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, much like his father, Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, head of the line of the family descended from Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro has claimed the title and right of Grand Master and bestowed the order.

Notable recipients

Grades

Knight	Commander	Knight Grand Cross

The Order is now divided into three grades (the modern revival has allowed the award to women):

• Knight Grand Cross with sash ribbon and star
• Dame Grand Cross, with ribbon with bow edged in gold and covered with fleurs-de-lis
• Knight Commander, with cross on neck ribbon
• Dame Commander with ribbon with bow edged in gold and cross;
• Knight First Class, with ribbon and cross;
• Dame First Class with ribbon with bow and cross.