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Mozart and the Order of the Golden Spur

MOZART / Order of Golden Spur


"On 26 June 1770, Mozart was awarded the Order of the Golden Spur by pope Pope Clement XIV. By receiving this honor, Mozart was appointed Comes palatinus Lateranus, i.e. Papal Count Palatine who in his home country had the right to use the predicate of nobility and to claim the social status that was connected with knighthood. Being a recipient of the first grade of the Papal Order, Mozart had more right to consider himself a nobleman than his colleague Gluck who had only received the second grade of that order. During his later life, Mozart never claimed his status as nobleman. A trace of his title only appears in his signature which he graced with the syllable "Ca" for the Italian word "Cavaliere"." - from "Wolfgang von Mozart" by Dr. Michael Lorenz.

Excerpts: 
(From Accademia Filarmonica Di Bologna, shared by Gerhard Spitz, Admin of our Facebook group, European Mozart Ways.)

"June 26, 1770. Just 27 hours of travel back to Rome: ′′ We really flew!", Leopold writes. We have often told about Amadeo's travel conditions, but during this relocation an accident occurs and to protect his son during the crash, Leopold injured his foot. It will be the beginning of a long recovery for the travelling musician, a recurring topic (with annexed complaints) in many of the remaining letters of these summer months. But at least now father and son are back in Rome."

"July 5, 1770. Clement XIV awarded Amadeo of the Order of the Golden Speron. Not the first musician to receive it, but definitely the youngest. And at such a solemn moment, Leopold can't help but commenting with his wife: ′′ You can imagine how much I laugh when I hear everyone call him Mr. Cavalier ", besides, the guy is just 14 years old and waving his signature sister : Cavalier de Mozart!"

Order of the Golden Spur

The Order of the Golden Militia / Order of the Golder Spur is a Papal order of knighthood conferred upon those who have rendered distinguished service in propagating the Catholic Faith, or who have contributed to the glory of the Church, either by feat of arms, writings, or other illustrious acts. It is one of the oldest papal orders, and its membership is restricted to one hundred throughout the world.

In 1841 it was absorbed into the Order of Saint Sylvester but Pius X restored it to the status of a separate order and placed it under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin.

The decoration consists of an eight-pointed, yellow, enamelled gold cross in whose center is a small white medal on one side of which is the word Maria, and on the other the year MDCCV and Pius X Restituit, and which is suspended from a white-bordered red ribbon. The badge, which is worn on the left breast, is the cross upon the rays of a silver star. The official uniform is a red tunic decorated with gilt buttons, black velvet collar and cuffs embroidered in gold, black trousers with gold side stripes, epaulettes, gold spurs, oblong two-peaked hat trimmed with gold and bearing the papal colors, and a sword.

Notable Receivers

Ventura Salimbeni (1568-1613), a Sienese Mannerist painter.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 18th century classical composer.
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Giacomo Casanova, 18th century adventurer.



Resources:

European Mozart Ways, shared by Gerhard Spitz, Admin of the group, a post from Accademia Filarmonica Di Bologna. (June 27, 2020) accessed  July 5, 2020.

Order of the Golden Spur. Wikipedia encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors. Please see full disclaimer.

Wolfgang von Mozart by Dr. Michael Lorenz.  Accessed June 26, 2016.



(c) June 2006. Updated June 26, 2020. Tel.  Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

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