Order Of The Garter Star

The order of the garter is the world s most ancient order of chivalry and was founded by king edward iii.

Order of the garter star. There is an order called the order of the garter which is the most illustrious order of british knighthood. Nearly 700 years later the order is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in britain. There are examples in the royal collection of the stars of foreign orders given george v surrounded with the garter e g.

The star is 3 5 inches 90 mm tall. Because the earliest records of the order were destroyed by fire it is difficult for historians to be certain of its original purposes the significance of its emblem and the origin of the order s motto. In medieval times king edward iii was so inspired by tales of king arthur and the chivalry of the knights of the round table that he set up his own group of honourable knights called the order of the garter.

1348 ce the chivalric order was one of the first of a growing trend where rulers and noble knights sought to differentiate. The order of the garter. The star is cast in bronze and then plated in a bright nickel.

Order of the garter star riband and lesser george these pieces of insignia from the most noble order of the garter are worn for simpler occasions than other pieces such as the mantle or collar. Today we see them most often at state banquets. The most noble order of the garter english order of knighthood founded by king edward iii in 1348 ranked as the highest british civil and military honour obtainable.

The origins of the garter as the order s emblem and for its motto honi soit qui mal y pense will probably never be ascertained with certainty but legend relates that it began at a ball when. The king or queen of the united kingdom is sovereign of the order which is limited to 24 living knights or ladies companion. The order consists of the sovereign and 25 companions of which the prince of wales is always a member.

Created by edward iii of england c. The order of the star french. Ordre de l étoile or company of the star was an order of chivalry founded on 6 november 1351 by john ii of france in imitation of the order of the garter founded in 1347 by edward iii of england the inaugural ceremony of the order took place on 6 january 1352 at saint ouen from which it is sometimes called the order of knights of the noble house of saint ouen.