Antique Original Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic Grand Cross Star Medal Ð CommanderÕs Grade Color Insignia Ð Type IV (1875-1931) | Including wreath suspension | On a Full Length Original Collar/Sash | CommanderÕs Cross in Gold and enamels | Circa. 1900 | With original ribbon collar | Size: 3.0_ | Very Fine Condition with Enamel Intact. Provenance: Part of a prominent Lifelong Military Medal Collection; Acquired from private Chicago, IL family of the collector. The Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: Orden de Isabel la Cat—lica) is a Spanish civil order in which membership is granted in recognition of services that benefit the country. The Order is not open to Spaniards exclusively, and it has been used to award many foreigners. The Order was created on 14 March 1815 by King Ferdinand VII in honor of Queen Isabella I with the name of ÒRoyal and American Order of Isabella the CatholicÓ with the intent of Òrewarding the firm allegiance to Spain and the merits of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation and especially in those exceptional services provided in pursuit of territories in America and overseas.Ó The Order was reorganized by royal decree on 26 July 1847, as the modern ÒRoyal Order of Isabella the CatholicÓ with a broader focus than the Americas. The Order of Isabel the Catholic was instituted by King Ferdinand VII on 14 March 1815 as the Royal American Order of Isabel the Catholic. The original statutes of the Order were approved by Royal Decree of 24 March, with membership made in three classes: Grand Cross, and Knights of First and Second Class. Ferdinand VII was declared the OrderÕs Founder, Head, and Sovereign. On October 7, 1816, at the suggestion of the Chapter of the Order, the Knights of the first class were renamed Commanders and the second class were renamed Knights. Under the reign of Isabel II, the four royal orders in existence in Spain at the time: the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of the Languages __of Aragon and Castile, the Order of Charles III, and the Order of Isabella the Catholic was reorganized by royal decree of 26 July 1847. The latter was reserved to reward exclusively the services rendered in the Overseas territories. The classes of the order became Knight, Commander, Commander by Number, and Grand Cross. The concession and tests of nobility was suppressed in all the Royal Orders. By royal decree of October 28, 1851, no concessions of Grand Cross of any orders were to be made without the proposal of the Council of Ministers and concessions for the lower classes with the proposal of the Secretary of State. After the establishment of the First Republic, the Order was declared to be extinguished by Decree of 29 March 1873 as deemed to be incompatible with the Republican Government. Use of the various insignias was allowed to those who possessed them. When King Alfonso XII ascended to the throne, the Order was reestablished by Decree of 7 January 1875. During the minority of Alfonso XIII, his mother and Regent, Maria Cristina, signed the royal decrees of 15 April 1889 and 25 October 1900. Among other things, they sought to impose entry into the Order by the category of Knight, to prohibit the use of decorations until the corresponding title was obtained, and to ratify the obligation that the Grand Cross be awarded with the agreement of the Council of Ministers and for conferees to be published in the Official Gazette. By Royal Decree of March 14, 1903, the Silver Cross of the Order was created, and by Royal Decree of April 15, 1907, the Silver and Bronze Medals. In Royal Decree 1118, of 22 June 1927, the superior grade of Knights of the Collar was created, to be awarded to prominent personalities of extraordinary merit. It also provides that women can also be decorated with either the lazo or banda The Provisional Government of the Republic, by decree of 24 July 1931, abolished all orders under the Ministry of State, except for the Order of Isabella the Catholic. The regulations approved by decree of 10 October 10 1931 introduced a new degree: Officer (Oficial). By decree of 8 August 1935, it was established that the first degree in the Order of Isabella the Catholic was that of the Grand Cross, the Collar being reserved exclusively for very exceptional cases. In 1938, General Franco, by decree of 15 June, restored the Order in its traditional meaning: to reward meritorious services rendered to the country by nationals and foreigners. The orderÕs regulations were approved by Decree of 29 September 1938. According to the 1938 regulations, the order consisted of the following grades: Knight of the Collar, Knight Grand Cross, Commander by Number, Commander, Knight, and Silver Cross. Decree 1353/1971, of June 5, re-incorporated the rank of Officer, placing it between the grades of Knight and Commander. Thus, the Order consisted of the following grades: Knight of the Collar, Knight of the Grand Cross, Banda de Dama (denomination of the Grand Cross when granted to ladies), Commander by Number, Commander, Officer, Knight, Lazo de Dama (the degree of Knight when it is granted to ladies), and Cruz de Plata. The orderÕs current regulations date from 1998 as approved by Royal Decree 2395/1998, of 6 November. Among its provisions, the categories of Banda de Dama, Cruz de Caballero and Lazo de Dama were repealed to avoid possible interpretations of there being gender discrimination. Notwithstanding this, for aesthetic and functional reasons, the ladies who are decorated use reduced versions of the insignia of each degree of the Order. The King of Spain (currently Felipe VI) is Grand Master of the Order. The Grand Chancellor of the Order is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. All deeds granting decorations of the Order must bear the signatures of both. Members of the order at the knight and above enjoy personal nobility and have the privilege of adding a golden heraldic mantle to their coat of arms. Knights at the rank of Grand Cross and Knight of the Collar receive the official style of ÒHis or Her most Excellent LordÓ. Knights at the rank of commander and commander by number receive the style of ÒHis or Her Most Illustrious LordÓ.

Condition Report: Very Fine Antique Condition with Enamel Intact. Provenance: Part of a prominent Lifelong Military Medal Collection; Acquired from private Chicago, IL family of the collector.

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