63 Vatikan: St. Gregorius Orden, Großkreuzsatz (militärische Abteilung) verliehen an Alfons Maria von Bourbon - Sizilien, Graf von Caserta (1841-1934).
The Grand Cross Gold and Enamel, on a beautiful, stitched original sash. The background of the translucent red enamel of the cross arms with fine guilloché work. The characteristic military division of the order's weapon trophy above the cross in particularly fine and plastic goldsmith work. The back cross arms finely engraved.
The breast star is silver, the cross applied in gold and enamel. The background of the translucent red enamel of the cross arms with fine guilloché work. Minimal hairline cracks. On double pin.
Magnificent set in the finest old Italian goldsmith work.
Alfonso Maria Giuseppe Alberto of Naples-Sicily, better known as Alfonso Maria of Bourbon-Sicily, Count of Caserta (28 March 1841 – 1934) was the pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies after the death of his half-brother Francis II, the last King of the Two Sicilies.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfonso was the third son of twelve children of King Ferdinand II of Naples and Sicily (1810-1859) and his second wife, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1816-1867), the eldest daughter of Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen and Princess Henriette Alexandrine of Nassau-Weilburg.
After the death of his half-brother Francis II, King of the Two Sicilies (1836-1894), the Neapolitan legitimists regarded his brother Alfonso, Count of Caserta, as the rightful king (Alfonso I).
He had distinguished himself in the Papal Swiss Guard, particularly in Spain during the Carlist Wars, but above all for his heroic defence of the fortress of Gaeta in 1861.
From the citation for the award of the Knight's Cross of the Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa to the Duke of Caserta by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in 1861:
‘His Royal Highness, the Duke of Caserta, was born second stepson of King Francis II on 28 March 1841.
He displayed particularly daring bravery during the defence of Gaeta. Repeatedly, the king was obliged to order the young prince not to expose himself so much to enemy fire. During the particularly fierce bombardments on 8 and 22 January 1861, he had to be placed under formal casemate arrest for this reason."
It was only in the last phase of his long life, after the reconciliation between the Church and the State of Italy, that he restored relations with the Italian royal family.