Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation

Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata
The collar badge of the Order, which depicts Our Lady of the Annunciation, is worn on the feast day of the Most Holy Annunciation.
Awarded by The Duke of Savoy as Sovereign Head of the House of Savoy
Type	Dynastic order of knighthood
Royal house	House of Savoy
Motto	F.E.R.T. (Fortitudo Eius Rhodum Tulit; By his bravery he conquered Rhodes)
Eligibility	Military and civilian
Awarded for	Eminent service in high military positions Distinguished civil service Bringing distinction upon Italy Rendering great service to the House of Savoy
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Master	Disputed: Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
Grades	Knight (Cavaliere)
Statistics
Established	c. 1362 — Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy
Precedence
Next (lower)	Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Ribbon bar of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation

Disputed:

The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (Italian: Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata) is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood, originating in medieval Italy. It eventually was the pinnacle of the honours system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946. Today, the order continues as a dynastic order under the jurisdiction of the Head of the House of Savoy, Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples, who is the order's hereditary Sovereign and Grand Master.

The origins of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation begins in 1362, when Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy (1343-1383) instituted the order's earliest designation, under the title of Order of the Collar. Even at this time, the order was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is celebrated as "Our Lady of the Annunciation." Thus, the order is a dynastic religious (or Catholic) order of chivalry.

Under its first formulation, the order had fifteen knights. The number was symbolic of the number of daily masses celebrated with the order. In 1409, Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy, gave the order its first known statutes, and in 1434, he extended the order to five more knights.

Amadeus VIII's statutes were subsequently amended and reformed by Charles III, Duke of Savoy in 1518, by Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy in 1570, and thereafter by succeeding Sovereigns. The most recent took place on 11 June 1985 by HRH Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples and hereditary Grand Master of the order. It was in 1518, that many of the present designations were instituted. Most importantly, the order's name was changed to its current name, The Most Holy Order of the Annunciation. The badge of the order was also changed, with the representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary being added.