Order of Isabella the Catholic

The Royal Order of Isabel la Católica is a distinction of Spain, instituted by King Ferdinand VII on March 14, 1815, under the name of Royal and American Order of Isabel la Catholic, in order to "reward the refined loyalty and the merits acquired in favor of the prosperity of those territories".

History

The order was instituted by King Ferdinand VII on March 14, 1815, and was reorganized by royal decree on July 26, 1847, when it took its current name.

The last regulation was approved by royal decree in 1998. Its current function is «to reward those extraordinary behaviors of a civil nature, carried out by Spaniards and foreigners, that redound to the benefit of the Nation or that contribute, in a relevant way, to favor relations of friendship and cooperation of the Spanish Nation with the rest of the International Community”.

Currently it reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain. The Grand Master of the Order is the King of Spain while the Grand Chancellor of the Order is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. All the titles of the Order's decorations must bear the signatures of both.^{[citation required]}

Grades and insignia

The order can be granted to corporations, institutions, legal persons, organizations or public or private entities, in this case they are awarded the tie or the badge of honor.

The weapons of Alfonso XIII adorned with the necklace and the mantle of the order.

The Royal Order consists of 9 degrees, which consist of distinctive insignia among them, and have different treatments attached depending on the assigned degree.

The insignia of his highest grade, Collar, consists of a sash, a collar (from which the cross hangs), and a plaque. In the case of the Gran-Cruz, the insignia consists of a distinctive plate, the same as in the case of the Number Order. The Commendation consists of a cross hanging from the neck, although ladies can wear the cross on a bow. The insignia of the rest of the degrees consist of a cross or medal that is used on the chest, or in the case of ladies, in the form of a bow.

Grades of the Royal Order of Elizabeth the Catholic
Degree		Necklace	Great Cross	Encomienda Number	Encomienda	Official Cross	Cruz	Silver Cross	Medalla Silver	Medalla Bronze
Treatment		His Excellency or Her Excellency		Most illustrious Lord or Most illustrious Lady	Your Honor or Sir or Madam
Ribbon
Insignia	Male
	Female (optional)

Members of the Order of Isabel the Catholic

Dispossession of distinctions

The winner of any of the categories who has been sentenced for the commission of an intentional or public crime and has notoriously committed acts contrary to the determining reasons for the granting of the distinction may, by virtue of a file initiated ex officio or by reasoned complaint, and with the intervention of the Prosecutor of the Royal Order, be deprived of the title corresponding to the distinction granted, a decision that corresponds to whoever granted it.^{[citation required]}