Founded by King Francesco (Francis) I of the Two Sicilies in 1829 as a reward for civil and military merit, the Royal Order of Francis I is still bestowed today by the Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies. Whereas certain other orders were strictly Roman Catholic in nature and characterised by religious rites of investiture redolent of the Age of Chivalry, the Royal Order of Francis I exemplified the “civil” form of knighthood devoid of such trappings.
The Order has only three grades namely Knight First Class, Knight Commander and Knight Grand Cross. For women the grades are Dame, Dame Commander and Dame Grand Cross.
