Original Spanish Royal Order of Isabella The Catholic, Commander Grade Cross, Circa 1900.
Featuring The "F7" monogram, a crowned symbol, from the period between 1815-1847 and 1875-1931, signifying the reign of King Ferdinand VII. This particular example was produced at the turn of the century in 1900 by the firm Cejalvo of Madrid, The company was founded in 1860 by Mariano Cejalvo Sanz and has since then principally been engaged in the manufacture and sale of decorations and the creation of jobs related to fine enamels to fire. During his management, in 1884, S.M. Alfonso XII awarded the title of Supplier to the Royal Family.
The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (OYC), also known as the Real Orden de Isabel la Católica, is a prestigious knighthood established by the Kingdom of Spain. Along with the Order of Charles III and the Order of Civil Merit, it is one of the highest honors granted by the country. This order recognizes outstanding contributions to the nation or efforts towards international relations and cooperation, with a focus on territories once under the Spanish Empire. The Grand Master of the order is the King of Spain, and the Grand Chancellor is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Membership to the Order is open to both Spanish citizens and foreigners, particularly from Spanish-speaking countries. The Order was established in 1815 by King Ferdinand VII in honor of Queen Isabella I as the Real y Americana Orden de Isabel la Católica ("Royal and American Order of Isabella the Catholic") with the purpose of "recognizing the unwavering loyalty to Spain and the exceptional contributions of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation, particularly those in service of overseas territories in America." The Order was later reorganized by royal decree on July 26, 1847, under the name "Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic", to reflect the loss of the mainland possessions in the Americas after the Spanish American wars of independence.
The Order of Isabella the Catholic is highly esteemed in Spain and globally for various reasons. It serves as a significant tool in international relations, with honorees hailing from diverse regions. In addition, it is a distinctive and exclusive recognition, with only 72,398 individuals given the honor since its establishment in 1815. In comparison, other prestigious orders, like the French Legion of Honour and the Order of the British Empire, have honored over 1,000,000 people and 100,000 living members respectively during the same time period. Additionally, it is the sole Spanish civil honor that grants personal nobility, including an individual coat of arms, an official title (The Most Illustrious Sir / Ilustrísmo Señor), and membership in nobiliary organizations (such as the Real Asociación de Hidalgos).
This prestigious honor was established by King Ferdinand VII on 14 March 1815. Its membership is divided into three levels: Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. The original statutes of the Order, which were approved by Royal Decree on 24 March, established Ferdinand VII as the Order's Founder, Head, and Sovereign. In addition, the Knights of the first class were renamed Commanders and the second class were renamed Knights on 7 October 1816, in accordance with the suggestion of the Chapter of the Order.
On July 26, 1847, Isabella II made a royal decree reorganizing the four royal orders in Spain: the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Langues of Aragon and Castile of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Order of Charles III, and the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Only services performed in Overseas territories were eligible for the latter, with classes including Knight, Commander, Commander by Number, and Grand Cross. On October 28, 1851, another royal decree stated that no Grand Cross concessions could be made without the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, and lower class concessions required the recommendation of the Secretary of State.
Following the establishment of the First Republic, the Order was deemed incompatible with the republican government and extinguished by Decree of 29 March 1873. However, those who possessed the various insignias were allowed to continue using them. After King Alfonso XII assumed 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. These decrees aimed to make entry into the Order only possible through the category of Knight, prohibit the use of decorations until the corresponding title was obtained, and mandate that the Grand Cross be awarded with the agreement of the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette. On 14 March 1903, the Silver Cross of the Order was created by Royal Decree, and on 15 April 1907, the Silver and Bronze.
Royal Decree 1118, issued on June 22, 1927, established the Knights of the Collar as the highest rank, to honor distinguished individuals of outstanding merit. This decree also allowed for women to receive the lazo or banda decoration. Later, on July 24, 1931, the Provisional Government of the Republic eliminated all other orders under the Ministry of State, except for the Order of Isabella the Catholic. The regulations, adopted through a decree on October 10, 1931, added a new rank: Officer (Oficial). In addition, an August 8, 1935 decree specified that the Grand Cross was the initial rank in the Order of Isabella the Catholic, with the Collar being reserved for only the most exceptional cases.
The Order was reinstated in 1938 by Franco through a decree on June 15th, with its original purpose being to recognize meritorious contributions from both citizens and foreigners to the country. The regulations for the Order were approved on September 29th, 1938 by another decree. The 1938 regulations outlined six different grades for the Order: Knight of the Collar, Knight Grand Cross, Commander by Number, Commander, Knight, and Silver Cross. In 1971, Decree 1353 was issued which reintroduced the rank of Officer, positioned between Knight and Commander. As a result, the Order was now composed of the following grades: Knight of the Collar, Knight Grand Cross, Banda de Dama (for women awarded the Grand Cross), Commander by Number, Commander, Officer, Knight, Lazo de Dama (for women awarded the Knight rank), and Cruz de Plata.
