Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies

The Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies /Ordine reale delle Due Sicilie/ was a dynastic order of knighthood of the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. When Napoleon I gave his brother Joseph Bonaparte the Kingdom of Naples, he authorized him to create this Order. The order was founded by the King of Naples on February 24, 1808, as a means of rewarding the most courageous among those who had helped the Emperor's troops to "liberate" the country, or those who had returned important services to the state. The order was originally divided into three classes. The maximum number of members was set at: 50 dignitaries; 100 commanders; 650 knights. Its Grand Chancellor was Tommaso Sanseverino, fourteenth Prince of Bisignano.

Joseph abdicated to take the crown of Spain and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Joachim Murat. One of the first acts of his brother-in-law was to reform the order by a decree dated November 5, 1808, making some slight modifications to the statutes. New classes were added

Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight
​

Under Joseph Bonaparte the decoration consisted of a five-pointed gold star, enamelled in red ( ruby ), bearing:

Obverse inscription was also changed from "Joseph Napoleon Sicil rex" to “Joachim Napoleo Sicil Rex” .

In 1815 following the collapse of the Napoleonic regime in southern Italy King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies returned to his States in 1815. Political considerations committed him not to abolish the order of Two Sicilies, which a decree of June 4 of the same year confirmed.

Four years later in 1819 the same Ferdinand IV abolished the institution and replaced it with the Royal and Military Order of Saint-Georges de la Réunion. Knights of the Order of the Two Sicilies who were in active service received the new order in replacement of the old.


Collar of the Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies.

Collar of the Order of the Two Sicilies granted to Michelangelo Cianciulli /Michele Angelo Cianciulli, called Michelangelo within his family, was a marquis and statesman of the Kingdom of Sicily. He was born in Montella on 1 August 1734 and studied law at the University of Naples. He was regent of the Kingdom of Sicily from 8 July 1808 until 1 August 1808 when Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies handed over the crown of the Kingdom to Joseph Bonaparte and to Murat. He was appointed as Minister of Justice and settled the bill of law abolishing feudalism. He died in Naples on Sunday 16 May 1819./

Gold, silver, enamel.
Collection of the Musée de la Légion d'honneur.
​

 

The insignia of the Order is a five-pointed gold star enameled in ruby color surmounted by a gold eagle hanging from a light blue ribbon. On one side of the star was the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Naples with the inscription: ”Pro Renovata Patria” , on the other side the Trinacria (the ancient emblem and name of Sicily) with the inscription: ”Joseph Napoleo Siciliarum Rex instituit”. The Knights Commanders wore the ribbon hanging around their necks, the Knights Dignitaries in the form of a band hanging from right to left; the Dignitaries also wore the great star on the dress on the left side.​

Original proposed design drawings of the collar.

 

Knight badge.

Gold, enamel.
Height 69 mm, width 41 mm.
Marked with owl gold hallmark.
Early cross from the period of Joseph Bonaparte reign (1808-1809).

Mark.

 

Dignitary badge from the collection of the Musée de la Légion d'honneur.
Rare early cross from the period of Joseph Bonaparte reign (1808-1809).

 

Beautifully executed dignitary cross from the period of Joachim Murat reign (1809+).

Gold, enamel.
Height 118 mm.
Total weight 104 g.

Details.

 

Commander's cross from the period of Joseph Bonaparte reign (1808-1809).

Gold, enamel.
Height 118 mm.
Total weight 104 g.

 

Collar of Order of Two Sicilies that belonged to Joachim Murat.

On display in Royal Palace of Naples.

Details.

One of his swords.

 

Miniature.

Gold, enamel.
Height 24 mm; width 13 mm.

Unreadable mark.

 

Miniature bar with five gold medallions: Legion of Honor, Order of Iron Crown, Order of Reunion, Order of the Crown of Westphalia, Order of the Two Sicilies.

Gold, enamel.
Length 80 mm, height 20 mm.
Weight 16 g.

 

Knight badge from the period of Joseph Bonaparte reign (1808-1809).
Gold, enamel.
Size 38.3 mm.

 

Miniature bar in gold with Royal Order of Spain /Ordre royal d'Espagne was founded by King Joseph of Spain on 20 October 1808, under the name of royal and military order (’ordre royal et militaire) to be awarded for bravery on the battlefield as well as for civilian accomplishments. It had three classes: grand cross (grand cordon); commander (commandeur) and knight (chevalier). The order was abolished by King Ferdinand VII in 1814/.

Size 42.5 x 15.5 mm.
Weigh 6.25 g.

 

Both orders belong to the unknown owner of the previous miniature bar.

Gold, enamel.
Size 59 x 38.5 mm.
Weight 20 g.

 

Royal Order of Spain.

Gold, enamel.
Size 41 x 40 mm.
Weight 15.45 g.

 

Gold breast star and miniature of General Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, father of eminent writer and French peer Victor Hugo.

Collection of Victor Hugo House, Paris.

It looks like the central medallion of his breast star was once painted. Otherwise it is difficult to explain the missing prancing horse.

Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo (1773–1828) was the youngest son of Joseph Hugo, a former adjutant in the army of the Kingdom of France, and Jeanne-Marguerite Hugo. He was appointed an officer in 1790, and in 1791 he was appointed to a command in the Army of the Rhine. He fought in engagements along the length of the Rhine and as far as the Danube. Later, he was assigned as a battalion commander to fight against insurgents in Vendée and Brittany.
​

From 1800 to 1802, he was stationed in Besançon, after which point he transferred first to Marseille and afterwards to Bastia. There, he went into the service of Joseph Bonaparte, then King of Naples, and fought against insurgents in the kingdom. The King appointed him a Colonel in February 1808, for capturing and executing the famed guerilla leader Fra Diavolo. Hugo followed the King to serve in Spain throughout the Peninsular War, where he was appointed General.

After the retreat from Spain and the Battle of Vitoria on June 21, 1813, General Hugo was demoted to the rank of Major by order of Napoleon. Later, after being restored to the rank of General, he remained with the army until Napoleon's abdication, later returning to his service during the Hundred Days.​

His Restoration era Legion of Honor, topped with a bar decorated with the Order of St. Louis (awarded in 1814), the Lys and a Legion of Honor officer's cross (awarded on February 14, 1815).​

 

Gold, enamel.
Size 59 x 40 mm.
Weight 22 g.

 

Badge of Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte, older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Collection of Musée de l'Armée, Paris.

Gold, enamel.
Size 63.5 x 40.5 mm.

 

Knight's Cross of the Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies of superb workmanship awarded on January 28, 1814 Danish sculptor Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen https://asiamedals.info/threads/min...-albert-bertel-thorvaldsen.27787/#post-362991

Gold, enamel.
Height 60 mm.

Collection of Thorvaldsen Museum, Copenhagen.

Marks.

Naples 3. February 18 14.
The Grand Chancellor
of the Royal Order of the Two Sicilies, and grand eagle of the Legion of Honour.
To Sr. Alberto Torvalsen

Gentleman

On the 28th of last January the King deigned to appoint you a knight of the royal order of the two Sicilies.
I have the honor of inform you and I am sincerely pleased that you have been able to deserve the benevolence of His Majesty.
I take advantage of this opportunity to assure you of my distinguished esteem.
​

Girigucecco​

 

Knight’s badge of Joseph Napoleon issue.

Gold, enamel.
Width 36.2 mm.

 

Knight’s badge.

Gold, enamel.
Width 58 x 38 mm.

Ex-André Souyris-Rolland Collection.