Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... The Order Of St. Stephen.--Instituted at Florence, in the year 1561, by Cosmo di Medicis, and dedicated to St. Stephen, on whose festival (the 6th of August) he gained a victory at Marciano. It was partly a Military and partly a Religious Order, like that of Malta; but in a short time it fell into disrepute, and was at length entirely disused. But in May, 1764, it was revived by the late Emperor, and put on a respectable footing. The statutes and original constitution are however in a great degree changed. The Military Order Op Maria Theresa.--In June, 1757, the Empress Queen instituted this Order, which was at first composed of an unlimited number of Knights, divided into two classes; the first of which wear the badge of the Order pendent to a broad striped watered ribbon, of which two fifths are black, and three fifths yellow, sash ways over the right shoulder, and a cross or star embroidered in silver on the left breast of their outer garment. The second class wear the badge pendent to a narrow striped ribbon at the button hole. This Order continued thus from its first institution until the year 1765, when the Emperor added an intermediate class, styled Knights Commanders, who wear the ribbon sash-ways, but without any star on the outer garment. The badge of the Order is a cross of gold enamelled white, edged with gold, on the centre are the arms of Austria encircled with the word Fortitudine, and on the reverse is a oipher of the letters M. T. F. in gold, on an enamelled green ground. This Order is conferred on military men only. The Order Of St. Gerion.--The time of the institution of this Order, which is now extinct, is not precisely known, some placing it in the year 1190, under Frederick Barbarossa, and others half a century...
