Order of Saint Mark

Order of Saint Mark
Awarded by Doge and Senate of the Republic of Venice
Type Order of chivalry
Motto Pax tibi, Marce Evangelista meus
Awarded for military and civil services
Status Revived
Doge of Venice
Grades One

The Order of the Knights of Saint Mark (Associazione Cavalieri di San Marco in Italian) was the Order of Chivalry of the Republic of Venice. It was named in honour of Saint Mark the Evangelist.[1] The order may have lasted from the 780s to 1797, when the Republic of Venice fell. It was revived as an organization dedicated to recognizing the good works of individuals in the modern day.

History

The order may have been created as early as the year 787.[1] In 1178, Doge Ziani commissioned a winged lion to represent St. Mark and declared the lion to be the emblem of Venice.[2] In 1180, a knighthood for the order of St. Mark was created.[2] Individuals inducted into the order wore a collar that showed an image of the winged lion.[3] The order ceased to exist when the Republic of Venice fell.[4]

Knights of the Order were dubbed with a sword, those unable to do so were given the award via letters patent. The order was conferred by the Doge and the Senate of Venice.

The collar of the Order was a gold chain, pendant from this on one side the emblem of St. Mark the Evangelist; a winged Lion passant holding in its sinister paw a drawn sword erect, and in his dexter paw an open book with the motto Pax tibi, Marce Evangelista meus. On the reverse of the pendant was a portrait of the reigning Doge of Venice, with St Mark delivering a standard unto him.

A gondolier, Pietro Grossi, began a revival of the order in 1920 and it continued until 1968.[4] By 1948, Grossi had gathered 34,000 members for the order which wanted to re-establish an independent Venice.[5] The organization was created again on 25 April 1976 in order to recognize individuals who "work towards the common good."[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Saint Mark, April 25". Woodstock Observer. 4 April 1820. Retrieved 2018-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "USAACS From This City Home from Italy". The Morning Call. 19 April 1919. Retrieved 2018-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "The Collar and Cuff Factories of Troy". The New York Times. 16 March 1872. Retrieved 2018-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Who We Are". Associazione Cavalieri di San Marco. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  5. ↑ Plimmer, Dennis (6 July 1948). "Even Gondoliers Talk Politics". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2018-03-22 – via Newspapers.com.
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