Papal order of knighthood founded on June 17, 1847 by Pope Pius IX. It comprises four classes:
The decoration is an eight-pointed star made of blue enamel, the spaces between the rays filled with gold flames. On the white medallion in the center the name of the founder surrounded by the words "Virtuti et Merito" is engraved. The reverse side is the same save for the substitution of "Anno 1847" for Pius IX. The rarely worn official uniform consists of an elaborately embroidered dark blue evening coat, golden epaulettes, white trousers, and a bicorned white plumed hat.
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