Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit

Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit
Star and Badge of the Order
Awarded by the Kingdom of Two Sicilies
Type	Dynastic order of knighthood
Awarded for	Important deeds and with proof of loyalty to the Head of the Royal House and to the Royal Family
Statistics
Established	1 April 1800
Precedence
Next (higher)	Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
Next (lower)	Royal Order of the Two-Sicilies
Ribbon of the Order

The Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit is an order of knighthood of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

It was established on 1 April 1800 by Ferdinand IV of Naples and III Sicily to reward men who performed important deeds and gave proof of loyalty to the Head of the Royal House and to the Royal Family.

The Order is divided into three Ranks:

The decoration is formed by a golden round shield bearing the image of St. Ferdinand, edged by a blue-enameled round plate with the inscription "FIDEI ET MERITO", bordered by six golden rays edged by six white enameled lilies. The ribbon is blue and edged in dark red.