Knights of St. Stephen
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The Knights of St. Stephen (Official: Sacro Militare Ordine di Santo Stefano Papa e Martire, "Holy Military Order of St. Stephen Pope and Martyr") is a dynastic-military order founded in 1561.
[edit] History
The order was founded by Cosimo I de' Medici, first Grand Duke of Tuscany, with the approbation of Pope Pius IV in 1561. The rule chosen was that of the Benedictine Order. First Grand Master was Cosimo himself, followed by his successors as Grand Duke. The dedication to St. Stephen derives from the day of Cosimo's victorious Battle of Montemurlo (August 1 1537).
The objective of the order was to fight on the sea the Ottoman Turks and the pirates that rode Mediterranean Sea in the 16th century, making, in particular, dangerous inroad on the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea, where Cosimo had recently inaugurated the new port of Livorno. He also needed a symbol of union between the nobility of his newly unified reign (Florentine and Sienese) against a common enemy, as well as of his support to the Catholic Church. Finally, the creation of a Tuscan military order would also strengthen the prestige, both internal and international, of Cosimo's new state.
The first seat of the order was Elba Island, followed in a definitive way by Pisa. The Knights' Square in the city, on which their palace faces, is named after the Order. The Coat of Arms include a red cross with eight points, flanked by golden lilies.
In his early years, the Order took part successfully to the Spanish wars against the Ottomans, being present at the siege of Malta (1565), the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and the capture of Annaba in Algeria. After its aggressive capabilities had been recognized, the Order concentrated on the defence of the Mediterranean coasts against Turk and African pirates. In particular, the Knights made some incursions in the Aegean Islands controlled by the Turks, and took part to the campaigns in Dalmatia, Negroponte and Corfu.
After 1640, military involvement was reduced. The Order concentrated on the coastal defence and in ordnance duties, but did not miss to send some help to the Republic of Venice, then engaged in a desperate war against the Ottoman Empire. The last military action dates from 1719. Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Tuscany promoted a reorganization of the order, turning it into an institute for education of the Tuscan nobility.
In 1809, during the Napoleonic domination in Italy, the Knights were suppressed; the Order was recreated in 1817, to be again dissolved in 1859, when Tuscany was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia. However, the religious order remained in existence.
Presently, the Order counts c. 80 knights. Grand Master is Archduke Sigismund of Austria, heir of the Grand-Ducal house.
[edit] References
- Cuomo, Franco (1992). Gli Ordini cavallereschi nel mito e nella storia. it:Ordine di Santo Stefano Papa e Martire
nl:Heilige en Militaire Orde van Sint-Stefanus Paus en Martelaar
