The symbolic origins of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George found their reasons in the medieval Legend and in the ancient history. Saint George, a Christian born in Asia Minor about 270, became officer in the Imperial Army. In 303, he destroyed publicly one of the edicts of Emperor Diocletian against the Christians, an action that caused his torture and his definitive torment. In the course of time, a lot of legends about Saint George have been narrated. The first Orthodox iconography shows him in killing a dragon and during the Middle Ages, he was known as the Patron of Knights. Saint George has been venerated in Orient since about 350. In 312 after some years Saint George's martyrdom, the Emperor Costantine "The Great", on the eve of his winning battle at Ponte Milvio in Rome, had a vision of the Cross and of the words "In hoc signo vinces" (with this sign you will win). He ordered a labarum (a squared vexillum, suspended from a horizontal coffin, fixed at one vertical lance) built to show the Greek monogramma XP (for Cristos). His armies defeated those of Massentium and the Christians weren't persecuted in Rome. The Christianization of Italy and of the rest of Europe followed.
The Cross of Costantine
is a Greek Cross of an intense crimson colour, on which the golden monogramma
XP is superimposed. At the end of each arm of this cross there is one
of the letters I, H, S or V, that represent the word "In Hoc Signo Vinces".
The ornament is suspended with a light-blue ribbon of washed silk. The
50 soldiers, devoted to the labarum's protection, formed the "Guard of
the Labarum" which is today represented by the 50 High Cross of Justice
of the Constantinian Order's Knights. The legendary founder of the Constantinian
Order of Saint George is Isaac
II Angelo Comneno, Roman Emperor of Orient (byzantine) of XII century.
In the XV century, an aristocratic balkanic family, exiles who affirmed
to descend from Isasso's dynasty, fought side by side with the army of
Scanberg in Albany. When they established their residence in Venice, they
begun to confer them a honour identified as the "Constantinian Golden
Army". During those days, the brotherhood was the real military force
engaged in the wars against the Turkish in the Balkans. In XVI century
the right of the Comneni's family to ascend the throne of Costantinople
was recognized by many papal bulls. Also their "Golden Army" was recognized.
During all its history, the order has been put in relation with the Roman
Catholic Church. For the supreme Masters Angeli, it was the point of reference
during the wars against the invaders; for the popes, it was part of the
Counter-Reformation.
The present Constantinian Order of Saint George has been identified with the dynastic institution since 1698, when the last Pretender Comneni handed over to Francis Farnese, Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro. Pope Innocent XII confirmed this assigment with his bull Sincerae Fide, enacted on the 24th of October in 1699. The heart of the Constantinian Order was and remain the propagation of Christian faith, even if it has also always supported charitable actions. In 1731 the Order was transferred for dynastic right to Prince Charles of Bourbon, King Philiph V of Spain and his second wife, Elizabeth Farnese's son, who was nephew and heir of the last "Grand Farnese Master", Prince Antony. The Young Charles entere Parma like his sovereign in 1732. After two years Charles of Bourbon became King of Naples. for the first time after centuries, the Neapolitans could pride themselves on the fact that their monarch would have reigned in their city. since centuries, Naples had been governed from far away, with a local administration supervised by viceroys who were often foreigns. In 1735, Charles was crowned King of Sicily in Palermo. Its Magistery of Constantinian Order was recognized with a papal bull in 1738. Just few examples of Charles's image, as his statue in Messina, are still today visible in Italy. His most relevant inheritance was the development of Naples itself. The Royal Palace and the adjacent San Carlo Theatre, opened in King's name-day in 1737, represent the persistent testaments to his memory (although this last one had been widely restructured after a fire in 1816).
After
two decades when Charles succeeded his greater step-brother to the Spanish
throne, he yielded the crowns of Naples and Sicily to the son Ferdinand
who became Grand Master of Constantinian Order.
Ferdinand I of the two Sicilies (so his reign was called after 1816) reigned
until 1825. The Order was conferred in the reign of the two Sicilies until
1861, when the forces of King Francis II were defeated by the troops of
the invaders near the angioina fortress in Gaeta, on a headland between
Naples and Rome. The Reign of two Sicilies was annexed to the Reign of
Italy and Francis II lived in exile in Trento, at that time part of Austria,
until his death in 1894. His wife, Queen Mary Sophie, the younger sister
of Empress Elizabeth (Sissi) of Austria, had lived in Bavaria for many
years, where her family had reigned in the past, and died in Parisin 1925.
The remains of the last King and the last Queen of two Sicilies are buried,
together with those of their daugther (dead in tender age), in the royal
Chapel of Santa Chiara Basilica in Naples.
As a prerogative
recognized by the international law, a dynastic knightly Order is not
assigned to the national territory, neither to the presidency of a sovereign
state, but it is attributed to the person of the head of a royal dynasty
and the various decrees between 1734 and 1861 make clear that the Magistery
of the Constantinian Order is inseparable from the supremacy of the Royal
House of the two Sicilies.
For this reason the Constantinian Order is survived to the fall of the
reign of the two Sicilies. The Order continues to be recognized by the
Holy See, by many royal dynasties and by the Military Monarch Order of
Malta. (the reign of the two Sicilies has traditionally enjoyed one close
relation with the Order of Malta. maintaining a treaty which guarantees
a military protection to the island). Today, the Constantinian Order is
also recognized by the Italian Republic and therefore all the knights
can wear its badges. His brother Alphonso, Lord of Caserta succeeded King
Francis II as head of the "House of the two Sicilies". Ferdinand, Alphonso's
son, succeeded his father. Ranieri, Ferdinand 's younger brother succeeded
his brother. The present Head Master succeeded him. the Chief of the "Royal
house of the two Sicilies" is His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon,
Lord of Castro, born in Pollen in 1926. He is married with Countess Chantal
de Chevron Villette, Duchess of Castro, and has 3 sons: Princess Beatrice,
Princess Anna and the rightful heir, Prince Charles, Lord of Calabria.
Duchess of Calabria, Prince Charles's wife, is Princess Camilla, born
in Crociani. As already pointed out, the Constantinian Order is very active
in charitable and beneficial institutions. In particular it takes care
of the assistance of the sick, the disables and the old people. The work
of the Order is not only limited to particular facts: in fact, recently
thanks to the Knights of the Order, a permanent Institute for old people
in Pavia has been realized;
Moreover the Order supports in a persistent way the "Croce Costantiniana Onlus" Association , that takes care of the first aid service and orninary healthy trasportation service on the territory of Novara under the guidance of 118 Emergency Service, of Civilian Protection, of aid for hameless elderlies who live at "Casa Protetta of Novara", aid for young boys and girls "Hans e Gretel" community of Novara, and supports some social solidarity associations.