[citation needed] The Order is divided into three levels: These numbers excluded Sovereigns, Heads of State, and Princes of the Grand Ducal House and other Royal Houses, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and Tuscan Metropolitan Archbishops.

The number of women members cannot exceed fifty, excluding Princesses of the Grand Ducal and other Royal Houses, wives of Heads of State and Dames of the Order of Saint Stephen.

It is permitted for non-nobles to be admitted into the Order of the level of Grand Cross in cases of exceptional merit.

On 20 December 1866, Ferdinand IV and his children rejoined the imperial household, and the House of Tuscany ceased to exist as an already sovereign branch, being absorbed into the Austrian imperial branch; Ferdinand was allowed to retain his fons honorum vita natural durante, while his children became only imperial princes (Archdukes/Archiduchesses of Austria) and no longer princes/princesses of Tuscany.

In 1870, Ferdinand IV renounced his remaining political rights to claim sovereignty over the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in favour of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria [2][3][4][5] and with him all political claims to Tuscany for all descendants of Leopoldo.