An Interesting Order.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 1, 5 January 1910, Page 8

An Interesting Order.

The Order of the Crown of Italy, which] King Victor recently conferred upon several officers of the British Navy who rendered assistance at Messina, is one o-f the most interesting in Europe. The Iron Crown of Italy concealed beneath a sheath of gold and jewels an iron circlet alleged by tradition to have been forged from a nail of the Cross. For centuries this relic was kept in the cathedral at Monza; then Napoleon assumed the sovereignty, and crowned himself with fihaN . iron band, uttering the historic words, “God gave it to me; woe to him who touches it.” The eroiwn went to Austria, but after 1866 it was taken back, and the Order was founded by Victor. Emmanuel when Venetia was annexed. It was expressly a national Order, for it ■was to be conferred on those who, by signal merit, had helped Italy; but foreigners are eligible. The decoration is a> silver star, with an azure eirele surrounded by a fillet, on which are tha words “Vic-torius Emmanuel, Rex Italiae.” while on the azure circle is a re-presentation of the Iron Crown.