His Highness, the Prince of Cariati, Italy, Michael Chan, visited Joe Arpaio’s Fountain Hills, Arizona office recently to bestow upon the former sheriff of Maricopa County the official title of Duke of Cariati.

The Order of the Crown of Cariati is a dynastic order, a branch of the House of Savoy, the oldest surviving house of Europe, which was founded in 1003. The prince’s title was bestowed to him by His Royal Highness Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, the only son to the last King of Italy, Umberto II.

The title of Italian Duke was gifted to Arpaio, whose mother and father were both from Italy and immigrated to America before he was born.

“I am honored to receive this royal title from the country of my heritage, Italy,” Arpaio said. “I will always be a proud American, but I will never forget where my family came from.”

Cariati is a seaside town on the Ionian Sea along the southern coast of Italy.