Order of the Roman Eagle

The Fascist Order of the Roman Eagle founded in 1942 with civil and military divisions,[1] was abolished in Italy in 1944;[2] although it continued to be awarded by Benito Mussolini in the short-lived Italian Social Republic until 1945.[3] A self-styled order of the same name was founded by Romano Mussolini, fourth and youngest son of Benito Mussolini, in 1997.[4]

The insignia of Order of the Roman Eagle

The various degrees of the order, with corresponding ribbons, were as follows:

Ribbon	Class (English)	Full title in Italian
	1st Class / Knight Grand Cross	Cavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine civile e militare dell'Aquila romana
	2nd Class / Grand Officer	Grande Ufficiale dell'Ordine civile e militare dell'Aquila romana
	3rd Class / Commander	Commendatore dell'Ordine civile e militare dell'Aquila romana
	4th Class / Officer	Ufficiale dell'Ordine civile e militare dell'Aquila romana
	5th Class / Knight	Cavaliere dell'Ordine civile e militare dell'Aquila romana

The separate Order of the Patron Saints of Italy (Ordine dei Santi Patroni d'Italia), St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine of Siena, was also conferred by the so-called Republic of Salò between February and April 1945. An organisation of this name was also founded by Romano Mussolini in 1997.

See also

• List of Italian orders of knighthood
• Colonial Order of the Star of Italy

External links

• Ordine dell'Aquila Romana (in Italian)
• Ordine dei Santi Patroni d'Italia (in Italian)

References

1. By Royal Decree No. 172 of 14 March 1942
2. By Decree of the Lieutenant of the Realm of 5 October 1944
3. By Decree of the Duce and Head of Government of 2 March 1944
4. Statuto e successive modificazioni attualmente in vigore (Statutes and subsequent amendments currently in force) Ordine dell'Aquila Romana, 19 April 1997