Grades
The order is divided in three classes: *Grand Cross *Commander *Knight The class of Grand Cross was limited to a maximum of ten members, the class of Commander to twenty members, and the class of Knights to sixty. Foreigners appointed into the Order were counted as supernumerary knights, not affected by these limits. All grants provided personal noble status to the recipient. If this was mentioned in the letters patent, it could also be hereditary. The "Royal Parish of the Court" served as Church of the Order.The insignia
The ''medal'' of the order consisted of a white-enameled cross border of "overseas azure", subdivided in eight "golden-balls" points. In the middle was an azure shield with a white eagle in its center, antique symbol of the Este. In the superior part of the shield, one can read the motto ''PROXIMA SOLI'', and the inferior part, the data of foundation ''MDCCCLV''. At the back, the shield shows the Saint Contardo's effigy with the inscription: ''S. CONTARDUS ATESTINUS''. Between the four arms of the cross, four golden cursive letters, to form the word ''E S T E''. The cross is surmounted by a trophy for the military class, by an oak crown for the civilian class, and a royal crown for foreign knights. The ''ribbon'' is white bordered with sky-blue stripes. The founder, Francis V, continued to grant the Order, even in the years of his exile.References
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