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The Order of The Cross of Loyalty and Tradition
[edit]The ‘’‘Cross of Loyalty and Tradition’’’ (Italian: ‘‘Croce della Lealtà e Tradizione’’), commonly referred to as the ‘’‘Cross of Loyalty’’’, was an honor awarded by the Grand Ducal House of Tuscany . This distinction was conferred to both members and, in exceptional cases, non-members who have made significant contributions to preserving the traditions and demonstrating loyalty to the Grand Ducal House of Tuscany.
| The Order of The Cross of Loyalty and Tradition | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the order | |
| Awarded by The Grand Duke of Tuscany | |
| Type | Dynastic order |
| Established | 1817 |
| Motto | TRADITIONE, MERITO, LEALTA, FEDELTA |
| Awarded for | Loyalty to The Grand Ducal House of Tuscany |
| Status | Dormant |
| Founder | Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany |
| Grand Master | Archduke Sigismund of Habsburg-Lorraine |
| Grades | Knight |
 | |
History
[edit]The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was united with the Kingdom of Sardinia on March 22, 1860, and subsequently with the newly established Kingdom of Italy. The ruling family, a branch of the Habsburgs, went into exile in Austria, where many descendants continue to live. In 1971, Grand Duke Gottfried of Tuscany, Archduke of Austria, reorganized the former Grand Ducal Orders of Tuscany, including the Order of Saint Stephen and the Order of Saint Joseph, and established a central order chancellery in Florence. This organization, known as the ‘‘Unione Cavalleresca Ordini Grandducali Toscani’’, was tasked with preserving the history and traditions of the Grand Duchy and serving as a gathering place for the order’s members. According to its statutes, joining the association became a “moral obligation” for all knights of the Grand Ducal Orders.
Grand Duke Gottfried was born in Linz on March 14, 1902, and married Princess Dorothea of Bavaria on August 3, 1938. They had four children, including Archduke Leopold Franz, born on October 25, 1942, who succeeded his father in 1984 as the Grand Duke of Tuscany, taking the title of Leopold III Franz.
Establishment of the Cross
[edit]In 1977, on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the renewal of the Order under Grand Duke Ferdinand III in 1817, the Grand Duke Gottfried donated the "Croce della Lealtà e Tradizione" (Cross of Loyalty and Tradition), and gave the President of the UCOGT the right to award it in his name. This award, commonly known as the Cross of Loyalty, was modeled after the former Military Merit Cross of the Grand Duchy. The award was presented with a diploma featuring the depiction of the Cross of Loyalty and was signed by the President of UCOT, who also served as the head of the Grand Ducal Tuscan Order Chancellery.
Design
[edit]The Cross of Loyalty is a white enamel isosceles cross with a silver border. In the center of the cross is the silver coat of arms of Tuscany, topped with a fixed crown. The back of the cross bears the embossed inscriptions “TRADITIONE” (tradition) at the top, “MERITO” (merit) at the bottom, “LEALTA” (loyalty) on the left, and “FEDELTA” (faithfulness) on the right. The cross was originally manufactured by SARC Picchianie Barlacchi Firenze.
The ribbon of the cross is white with a red center stripe, typically folded into a triangle in the Austrian style.
References
[edit]• Albo della Unione Cavalleresca Ordini Grandducali Toscani 1817-1977, Florence, March 1977.
• The Grand Ducal Tuscan Cross of Loyalty and Tradition © Jörg C. Steiner & Roman Gamotha.