page_title: Order of chivalry
section_title: Monarchical orders
hierarchical_section_title: Order of chivalry / Medieval orders / Monarchical orders
caption_attribution_description: English: Miniature of the investiture of a knight, from the statutes of the "Order of the Knot" (L’ordre du Nœud ou ordre du Saint-Esprit au Droit Désir), founded 1352 by Louis of Naples. The golden knot emblem of the order is visibly carried on the breast by members. The three newly invested knights are fully armed, and wear tunics semy with the golden knot emblem.
context_page_description: An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order of knights typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades, paired with medieval concepts of ideals of chivalry.
  Since the 15th century, orders of chivalry, often as dynastic orders, began to be created in a more courtly fashion that could be created ad hoc. These orders would often retain the notion of being a confraternity, society or other association of members, however, some of them were ultimately purely honorific, consisting of a medal decoration. In fact, these decorations themselves often came to be known informally as orders. These institutions in turn gave rise to the modern-day orders of merit of sovereign states.
context_section_description: Late medieval monarchical orders (14th and 15th centuries) are orders of chivalry with the presidency attached to a monarch:
  Order of Montesa founded by James II of Aragon (Spain) in 1317.
  Order of Saint George, founded by Charles I of Hungary in 1325
  Order of the Band, founded by Alfonso XI of Castile in ca. 1330
  Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III of England in 1348
  Order of the Star, founded by John II of France in 1351
  Order of the Knot, founded by Louis I of Naples in 1352.
  Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, founded by Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy in 1362.
  Order of the Ermine, founded by John V, Duke of Brittany in 1381: First order to accept Women.
  Order of the Ship, founded by Charles III of Naples on 1 December 1381
  Order of the Dragon, founded by Sigismund von Luxembourg in 1408.
  Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430
  Order of the Tower and Sword, founded by Afonso V of Portugal in 1459
  Order of Saint Michael, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469
  Post-medieval foundations of chivalric orders:
  Order of Saint Stephen (1561)
  Order of the Holy Spirit (1578)
  Blood of Jesus Christ (military order) (1608)
  Order of the Thistle (1687)
  Order of the Elephant (1693)
  Order of Saint Louis (1694)
  Order of the Seraphim (1748)
  Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary (1764)
  Order of St. Patrick (1783)
  Order of Saint Joseph (1807)
  Monarchical orders whose monarch no longer reigns but continues to bestow the order:
  Order of the Golden Fleece (Austrian branch)
  Order of St. George (Habsburg-Lorraine)
  Order of the Holy Spirit
  Order of Prince Danilo I of Montenegro
  Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje
  Order of Skanderbeg
  Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception (Bavaria)
  Order of the Crown (Romania)
  Order of Carol I (Romania)
  Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Portugal)
  Order of Saint Michael of the Wing (Portugal)
  Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (Two Sicilies)
  Order of the Eagle of Georgia (Georgia)
  Order of Queen Tamara (Georgia)
  Order of the Crown of Georgia (Georgia)
  Royal Order of the Crown of Hawai'i (Hawai'i)
caption: Investiture of three new members of the Order of the Knot (miniature from the order's statutes, 1352/4).
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