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Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit
Star and Badge of the Order
Awarded by the Kingdom of Two Sicilies
Type	Dynastic order of knighthood
Established	1 April 1800
Awarded for	Important deeds and with proof of loyalty to the Head of the Royal House and to the Royal Family
Precedence
Next (higher)	Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
Next (lower)	Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies
Ribbon of the Order

The Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit is an order of knighthood of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

It was established on 1 April 1800 by Ferdinand IV of Naples and III Sicily to reward men who performed important deeds and gave proof of loyalty to the Head of the Royal House and to the Royal Family.

Ranks and Insignia

The Order is divided into three Ranks:

• Knights of Grand Cross, with fess, cross and plate;
• Knights Commanders, with neck ribbon and cross;
• Knights, with ribbon and cross to the buttons.

Knight	Commander	Knight Grand Cross

The decoration is formed by a golden round shield bearing the image of St. Ferdinand, edged by a blue-enameled round plate with the inscription "FIDEI ET MERITO", bordered by six golden rays edged by six white enameled lilies. The ribbon is blue and edged in dark red.

See also

• Royal Order of Francis I
• Order of Saint George and Reunion
• Order of Saint Januarius
• Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

External links

• Pictures of the Order

v t e Orders of the Italian States before the Unification of Italy (1871)
Kingdom of Sardinia	Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Military Order of Savoy Civil Order of Savoy
Republic of Genoa	Military Order of Saint George (Red-coloured cross)
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia (Austrian orders)	Order of the Golden Fleece Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Military Order of Maria Theresa Order of the Iron Crown Order of Leopold Order of Franz Joseph Order of the Starry Cross Order of Elizabeth and Theresa
Republic of Venice	Order of Saint Mark Order of the Golden Stole Company of the Hose
Duchy of Lucca	Order of Saint George for Military Merit Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit
Duchy of Parma	Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit
Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Order of the Eagle of Este Cross of Seniority of Service
Grand Duchy of Tuscany	Order of Saint Stephen Order of Saint Joseph Order of the Civil and Military Merit
Papal States	Holy See Supreme Order of Christ Order of the Golden Spur Order of Pope Pius IX Order of St. Gregory the Great Order of St. Sylvester Protected by the Holy See Order of the Holy Sepulchre Teutonic Order See also Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies	Order of Saint Januarius Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies Order of Saint George of the Reunion Royal Order of Francis I
See also: Template:Italian orders, decorations, and medals

• 1800 establishments in Italy
• Awards established in 1800
• Orders, decorations, and medals of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
• Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies