American Delegation of Savoy Orders
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American Delegation of Savoy Orders

SAVOY BLUE

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[...] of devotion of Azure Banner with the image of Our Lady in the field sown with stars (gold). And that color of sky consecrated to Mary is, as far as it seems to me, the origin of our national color [...]
     Count Luigi Cibrario


The Blessed Virgin in the parish church of St. Ulrich in Groden-Ortisei Val Gardena, Italy.  Painter Joseph Moroder-Lusenberg



Savoy blue or savoy azure (Italian: blu Savoia or azzurro Savoia, is a shade of saturated blue between peacock blue and periwinkle, lighter than peacock blue,   It owes its name to the fact of being the color of the  House of Savoy, a ruling dynasty in the county of Savoy from 1003 to 1416, the duchy of Savoy, from 1416 to 1714 the kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont from 1720 to 1861 and the kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1946.

Having become a national color with the unification of Italy (1859–70), its use continued even after the birth of the Italian Republic (1946) with the name "Italian blue". An Italian-blue border is in fact inserted on the edge of the Presidential Standard of Italy and the use of the blue scarf for the Italian Armed Forces’ officers, for the presidents of the Italian provinces during the official ceremonies, and of the blue jersey for Italian national sports teams. It was also maintained in the Republican era.

The origin of the color seems to date back to June 20, 1366 when  Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, before leaving for a crusade commissioned by Pope Urban V and organized to help the Byzantine Emperor John V. Palaiologos, cousin of a maternal part of the Savoy Count, wanted that on the flagship of the fleet of 17 ships and 2000 men  a galley of Republic of Venice, waved, nest to the red-crusading silver banner of the Savoys, a blue flag .The color therefore has a Marian implication, bearing in mind that there is also the possibility that the use of a blue banner by the Savoys starter earlier.  In any case the oldest documented Savoy flags, dating back to 1589, have the colors red, white (or the colors of the coat of arms of the dynasty, and blue.  The latter color acquired over time prevalence until it because the Italian national color.

The color therefore has a Marian implication, bearing in mind that there is also the possibility that the use of a blue banner by the Savoys started earlier.In any case the oldest documented Savoy flags, dating back to 1589, have the colors red, white (or the colors of the coat of arms of the dynasty) and blue. The latter color acquired over time prevalence until it became the Italian national color. The ribbons of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (the highest ranking Savoyard Dynastic Order, transplanted also into  the kingdom of Italy), were blues, also in the Republican era, are also the ribbons of the decorations of military valor (gold, silver,bronze medal and the war cross). 

Later, even for the officers, a blue scarf was provided in the outfit, dressed as a neck-band passing over the right shoulder and knotted on the left side. In 1572 this use was made obligatory for all the officers by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. Through various transformations, the savoy blue scarf is still the main rank of the Italian armed forces' officers, who dress it both in ceremonial services and, sometimes, on guard.
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Italian Army Infantry 1860-1900
4th Regiment Piemonte Brigade
in full dress

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American Delegation of Savoy Orders
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www.savoia.org
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  • Home
  • Royal House
    • Castles & Palaces >
      • Belvedere Castle
      • Chateau de Chambery
      • Carignan Castle
      • Royal Palace of Caserta
      • Chillon Castle
      • Castle of Gavone
      • Madama Palace
      • Castle of Miolans
      • La Mandria
      • Castle of Moncalieri
      • Royal Castle of Racconigi
      • Castle of Ripaille
      • Villa della Regina
      • Castle of Rivoli
      • Stupinigi Royal Hunting Lodge
      • Reggia del Valcasotto
      • Valentino Castle
      • Royal Palace of Turin
      • Royal Palace of Venaria
    • Abbeys & Chapels >
      • Abbey of St. Maurice d'Agaune
      • Saint Chapelle Cathedral at Chambéry
      • Royal Abbey of Hautecombe
      • Basilica of Superba
  • History
    • Early Counts of Savoy >
      • Last Counts of Savoy
      • Early Dukes of Savoy >
        • First Kings of Savoy
        • Rise of the Savoy-Carignano Branch 1831
        • Unification of a Nation
        • Savoy Family and World War I
        • King Humberto II
        • Royal House in Modern Times
      • Savoy in 13th Century England >
        • Swift Sword of Savoy
        • History of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
        • History of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus by Lou Mendola
  • News & Events
  • Savoy Orders
    • Leadership of the Savoy Orders
    • Leadership of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders
    • Civil Order of Savoy >
      • Statutes of the Civil Order of Savoy
      • Insignia/Robes of the Civil Order of Savoy
    • Order of Merit of Savoy >
      • Statutes of the Order of Merit of Savoy
      • Insignia and Robes of the Order of Merit of Savoy
    • Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus >
      • Statutes of the OSSML
      • Insignia and Robes of the OSSML
    • Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation >
      • Statutes of the Annunziata
      • Insignia and Robes of the Annunziata
  • Savoy Foundation
  • Contact & Links
  • Members Log In
    • Membership Rolls