Order of Queen Maria Luisa
Royal Order of Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa Real Orden de las Damas Nobles de la Reina María Luisa | |
---|---|
Kingdom of Spain | |
Royal house | House of Bourbon |
Ribbon | |
Sovereign | King Felipe VI |
Grand Mistress | Queen Letizia (de facto)[1] |
Grades | Dame-Grand-Cross Dame |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III |
Next (lower) | Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic |
The Royal Order of Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa is an
History
The Order was defined as a strictly female reward system, ruled by the Queen and composed of thirty members reserved for the Spanish high nobility. The first secretary of the Order was Don Miguel de Bañuelos y Fuentes, retired Knight of the Order of Charles III, and General Stewart of the Army.
In 1796 the
In a Royal Decree of October 28, 1851, a payment of 3,000
A Republican decree of July 24, 1931, without expressly referring to this Order, abolished in fact as an official institution. But both
Currently, and according to the statutes, there is a single category of Noble Lady, limited to 30 members except on the express will of the monarch. Since the resignation of Don Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona to his dynastic rights on May 14, 1977, during the reign of Juan Carlos I, there have been no new appointments so that, although it formally remains in effect, it can be considered that this order is de facto extinct.[2]
Patronage and feast days
The patronage of the Order was entrusted to Saint Ferdinand, king of Castile and León and Saint Louis, king of France and during their feast days, May 30 and August 25 respectively, the Queen received protocolarly the Ladies in chapter. As well, the Noble Ladies of the Order were statutorily recommended special devotion to their patron saints and had to visit once a month a charity establishment, such as the Hospital de la Inclusa or some women's hospitals such as the Hospital de la Pasión.
Investiture
Women rewarded by this distinction normally receive it in a formal investiture ceremony described in the statute, in the private rooms of the Queen at the Royal Palace, except in cases of serious illness or disability.
Many women from many countries have received this distinction, one of the major honors that the Spanish monarchy can award to women in recognition of their "services, actions and qualities."
Current members
- Infanta Margarita, 2nd Duchess of Hernani – 1192nd Dame
- Queen Sofía of Spain – 1193rd Dame. Last dame inducted.[1]
Notes and sources
- La Real Orden de Damas Nobles de la Reina María Luisa (in Spanish), published by Palafox y Pezue, Madrid, 1998, 512 pages
- Dames of the Royal Order of Queen María Luisa of Spain
- ^ a b There has been no new appointments so that, although it formally remains in effect, it can be considered that this order is de facto extinct. (in Spanish) Royal Order of Queen Maria. Blasones hispanos. Retrieved April 15, 2015
- ^ Royal Order of Nobles Damas de María Luisa. Chivalric Orders. Retrieved April 15, 2013