François Ier d'Autriche
Created by a short decree of 16 April 1826, the order initially consisted of one grade and was only awarded to reigning monarchs. It was only regularized by Decree No. 228 of 19 October 1842, which would finally establish its degrees, number of holders and establish the design of the insignia. In that time, it was characterized as a strictly personal award of Emperor Pedro I, its grand master, which awarded only one person: his father-in-law Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. It was Emperor Pedro II who most distributed the order, being, nevertheless, the Brazilian order that had fewer holders.