Order of Saint Stephen

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The Sacred Military Order of Saint Stephen, Pope and Martyr is an Order of the former Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

[edit] History

The decision to found the Military Order of Saint Stephen, Pope and Martyr, was announced in 1561, by Cosimo de Medici, Duke of Florence, to commemorate his victory over the French, on Saint Stephen's day, 2 August 1554. Limited to Catholics of legitimate birth, it was obliged to defend the Church and the Catholic Faith. Its statutes were confirmed by Pope Pius V. The Order was able to survive the abolition of the state of Tuscany in 1859. In 1567 Pope Pius conferred on Cosimo the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany for him and his heirs and successors, with sovereignty over Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena and the surrounding territories. To join the Order a postulant had to be at least eighteen years of age, able to meet the financial obligations of membership, make the necessary noble proofs and not to be descended from heretics. Leopold himself became Emperor in 1790, after his father, Francis I died, and six months later, on 7 March 1791, Leopold abdicated the Grand Duchy to his younger son, Ferdinand III, the founder of the present Grand Ducal House. Although Ferdinand had been the first European Sovereign to recognize the French Republic, he was forced to submit to the French authorities who occupied the Grand Duchy in 1799. He abdicated both Grand Duchy and the Grand Magistery of Saint Stephen. The order survived during the shortlived Kingdom of Etruria. Following the restoration of Ferdinand III in 1814, the revival of the Order was proposed. By a decree dated 1815 the Ripristinazione dell'Ordine dei Cavalieri di S. Stefano was proclaimed.

[edit] Currently

The order is still awarded by HI&RH Sigismund, Grand Duke of Tuscany

There are presently forty-four members, four Grand Crosses (two of them Sacerdotal), thirty-six Knights of Justice, three Chaplains, and one Dame. All knights and dames must be Roman Catholic, although an exception is made for Sovereigns, Heads of States and members of royal families who are members of the other Christian denominations.