THE APOSTOLIC ORDER OF SAINT STEPHEN.
St. Stephen, intended originally to be the National Order of Hungary, also owes its institution to the Empress Maria Theresa, and was designed as a reward for civil distinction and merit. It was founded on the 5th May, 1764, on the day when the presumptive heir to the throne, the Archduke Joseph (afterwards the Emperor Joseph IT.), was crowned King of Rome. The name was given in honour of the founder of the Hungarian kingdom, St. Stephen. By the statutes, the Grand Mastership of the Order is vested in the Crown of Hungary, and the College is to consist of a hundred noble Knights distinguished by merit. They are divided into: Knights of the Grand Cross (to the number of twenty), Commanders (to the number of thirty), and Knights simple, (to the number of fifty).
The badge (Plate 1V. Tab. I. Nos. 6 and 7) is an octagonal cross, green-enamelled, with a golden edge, and containing another cross in the red-enamelled centre. On the obverse of the middle scutcheon is seen the Apostolic silver cross within a golden crown placed on a green mountain, bearing on both sides the initials of the founder: 'M. T.' (Maria Theresa), with the legend: ' Publicum Meritorum Præmium' (Public reward of merit). The white-enamelled reverse of the scutcheon exhibits a cross of oak-leaf, with the legend: ' Sto. St. Ri. Ap.' (Sancto Stephano, Regi Apostolico). Above the cross is appended the Hungarian crown of gold. Green and red are the two national colours of Hungary, while the Apostolic cross indicates the renewed Apostolic title of the founder of the Order.
The Order is suspended by a red ribbon with green borders, and is worn by the Knights of the Grand Cross—if laymen— across the right shoulder, and, if ecclesiastics, round the neck.
