Order of Saint Joseph


The Order of Saint Joseph was instituted on 9 March 1807 by Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany during his reign as Grand Duke of Würzburg. It was transformed into a Tuscan Roman Catholic Dynastic Order in 1817.
The constitution of the Order was promulgated in March 1817, with amendments in August 1817. The order was divided into civil and military categories but these are now defunct. It is given to reward services towards Tuscan culture and civilisation and to the Grand Ducal House as a whole.
The Order is divided into three levels:
  • Knights Grand Cross, numbering thirty
  • Commander, numbering sixty
  • Knights, numbering one hundred and fifty
These numbers excluded Sovereigns, Heads of State, and Princes of the Grand Ducal House and other Royal Houses, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and Tuscan Metropolitan Archbishops. All had to be Catholics. The number of women members cannot exceed fifty, excluding Princesses of the Grand Ducal and other Royal Houses, wives of Heads of State and Dames of the Order of Saint Stephen.
It is permitted for non-nobles to be admitted into the Order of the level of Grand Cross in cases of exceptional merit.
Dames wear the same Cross as Knights but from a bow on the left breast. Dame Grand Crosses wear the Cross hanging from a Riband like the Knights but without the Star.
The Order of Saint Stephen and the Order of Saint Joseph are currently conferred as dynastic honors by His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Sigismund of Habsburg-Tuscany, Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany and Head of the House of Habsburg-Tuscany. As Grand Master of both Orders, Archduke Sigismund continues the historical tradition of the Grand Ducal House in bestowing these decorations in recognition of merit and service.
Under Italian Law No. 178 of 1951, which governs the wearing of foreign and non-national honors, dynastic orders such as those conferred by formerly reigning royal houses may be authorized for wear in Italy when formally recognized. In accordance with this law, the Orders of Saint Stephen and Saint Joseph, under the Grand Mastership of Archduke Sigismund, may be lawfully worn in Italy with authorization.

Recipients