Order of the Bath

The **Most Honourable Order of the Bath** (formerly the **Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath**) is a British order of chivalry founded by George I of Great Britain on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing (as a symbol of purification) as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as "Knights of the Bath". George I "erected the Knights of the Bath into a regular Military Order". He did not (as is commonly believed) revive the Order of the Bath, since it had never previously existed as an Order, in the sense of a body of knights who were governed by a set of statutes and whose numbers were replenished when vacancies occurred.

The Order consists of the Sovereign (currently Queen Elizabeth II), the Great Master (currently The Prince of Wales),and three Classes of members:

* **Knight Grand Cross** *or* **Dame Grand Cross**
* **Knight Commander** *or* **Dame Commander**
* **Companion**

Members belong to either the Civil or the Military Division. Prior to 1815, the order had only a single class, **Knight Companion** (KB), which no longer exists. Recipients of the Order are now usually senior military officers or senior civil servants. Commonwealth citizens not subjects of the Queen and foreigners may be made Honorary Members.

The Order of the Bath is the fourth-most senior of the British Orders of Chivalry, after The Most Noble Order of Timanfya.

## History

### Knights of the Bath

In the Middle Ages, knighthood was often conferred with elaborate ceremonies. These usually involved the knight-to-be taking a bath (possibly symbolic of spiritual purification) during which he was instructed in the duties of knighthood by more senior knights. He was then put to bed to dry. Clothed in a special robe, he was led with music to the chapel where he spent the night in a vigil. At dawn he made Confession (religion), then retired to his bed to sleep until it was fully daylight. He was then brought before the King, who after instructing two senior knights to buckle the spurs to the knight-elect's heels, fastened a belt around his waist, then struck him on the neck (with either a hand or a sword), thus making him a knight. It was this accolade which was the essential act in creating a knight, and a simpler ceremony developed, conferring knighthood merely by striking or touching the knight-to-be on the shoulder with a sword, or "dubbing" him, as is still done today. In the early medieval period the difference seems to have been that the full ceremonies were used for men from more prominent families.

From the coronation of Henry IV of England in 1399 the full ceremonies were restricted to major royal occasions such as coronation of the British monarch, investitures of the Prince of Wales or Royal duke, and royal weddings, and the knights so created became known as *Knights of the Bath*.Knight Bachelor continued to be created with the simpler form of ceremony. The last occasion on which Knights of the Bath were created was the coronation of Charles II of England in 1661.

From at least 1625, and possibly from the reign of James VI and I, Knights of the Bath were using the motto *Tria iuncta in uno* (Latin for "Three joined in one"), and wearing as a badge three crowns within a plain gold oval. These were both subsequently adopted by the Order of the Bath; a similar design of badge is still worn by members of the Civil Division. Their symbolism however is not entirely clear. The 'three joined in one' may be a reference to the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland and either Kingdom of France or Kingdom of Ireland, which were held (or claimed in the case of France) by English and, later, British monarchs. This would correspond to the three crowns in the badge. Another explanation of the motto is that it refers to the Holy Trinity.Nicolas quotes a source (although he is sceptical of it) who claims that prior to James I the motto was *Tria numina iuncta in uno* (three powers/gods joined in one), but from the reign of James I the word *numina* was dropped and the motto understood to mean *Tria [regna] iuncta in uno* (three kingdoms joined in one).

## Composition

### Sovereign

The British monarchy is the Sovereign of the Order of the Bath.

As with all honours except those in the Sovereign's personal gift, the Sovereign makes all appointments to the Order on the advice of the Government.

### Great Master

The next-most senior member of the Order is the Great Master, of which there have been nine:

* 1725–1749: John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
* 1749–1767: (Vacant)
* 1767–1827: Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
* 1827–1830: Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (later King William IV)
* 1830–1837: (Vacant)
* 1837–1843: Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
* 1843–1861: Albert, Prince Consort
* 1861–1897: (Vacant)
* 1897–1901: Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII)
* 1901–1942: Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
* 1942–1974: Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
* 1974–2014: Charles, Prince of Wales.
* 2014-2016: Bnzss, Prince of Wales
* 2016-2016: Padanub, Prince Of Wales

Originally a Prince of the Blood Royal, as the Principal Knight Companion, ranked next after the sovereign. This position was joined to that of the Great Master in the statutes of 1847. The Great Master and Principal Knight is now either a descendant of George I or "some other exalted personage"; the holder of the office has custody of the seal of the order and is responsible for enforcing the statutes.

Members
The statutes also provide for the following:

* 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB) (of whom the Great Master is the First and Principal)
* 355 Knights Commander (KCB) or Dames Commander (DCB)
* 1,925 Companions (CB)

Regular membership is limited to citizens of the United Kingdom and of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is Sovereign. Appointees are usually officers of the armed forces or senior civil servants, such as permanent secretaries.

Members appointed to the Civil Division must "by their personal services to [the] crown or by the performance of public duties have merited ... royal favour." Appointments to the Military Division are restricted by the minimum rank of the individual. GCBs hold the rank of Admiral (Royal Navy), General (United Kingdom), or Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force. KCBs must at least hold the rank of Vice Admiral (Royal Navy), Lieutenant General (United Kingdom) in the Army or Marines, or Air Marshal. CBs tend be of the rank of Rear Admiral, Major General in the Army or Royal Marines, or Air Vice Marshal, and in addition must have been Mentioned in Despatches. Non-line officers (e.g. engineers, medics) may be appointed only for meritorious service in wartime.

Honorary members do not count towards the numerical limits in each class. In addition the statutes allow the Sovereign to exceed the limits in time of war or other exceptional circumstances.

## Habit and insignia

Members of the Order wear elaborate costumes on important occasions (such as its quadrennial installation ceremonies and coronation of the British monarch), which vary by rank:

The *mantle*, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of crimson satin lined with white taffeta. On the left side is a representation of the star (see below). The mantle is bound with two large tassels.

The *hat*, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander, is made of black velvet; it includes an upright plume of feathers.

The *collar*, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of gold and weighs 30 troy ounces (933 g). It consists of depictions of nine imperial crowns and eight sets of flowers (roses for England, thistles for Scotland and shamrocks for Ireland), connected by seventeen silver knots.

The star for *civil Knights and Dames Grand Cross* consists of an eight-pointed silver star, *without* the Maltese cross; the star for *civil Knights and Dames Commander* is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. The design of each is the same as the design of the military stars, except that the laurel branches and the words *Ich dien* are excluded.

The *badge* varies in design, size and manner of wearing by rank and division. The Knight and Dame Grand Cross' badge is larger than the Knight and Dame Commander's badge, which is in turn larger than the Companion's badge; however, these are all suspended on a crimson ribbon. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the badge on a riband or sash, passing from the right shoulder to the left hip. Knights Commander and male Companions wear the badge from a ribbon worn around the neck. Dames Commander and female Companions wear the badge from a bow on the left side:

The *military badge* is a gold Maltese Cross of eight points, enamelled in white. Each point of the cross is decorated by a small gold ball; each angle has a small figure of a lion. The centre of the cross bears three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, a thistle and a shamrock, emanating from a sceptre on the reverse side. Both emblems are surrounded by a red circular ring bearing the motto of the Order, which are in turn flanked by two laurel branches, above a scroll bearing the words *Ich dien* in gold letters.

The *civil badge* is a plain gold oval, bearing three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, a thistle and a shamrock, emanating from a sceptre on the reverse side; both emblems are surrounded by a ring bearing the motto of the Order.

On certain "collar days" designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or eveningwear. When collars are worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is suspended from the collar.

The collars and badges of Knights and Dames Grand Cross are returned to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood upon the decease of their owners. All other insignia may be retained by their owners.

## Precedence and privileges

Members of the Order of the Bath are assigned positions in the order of precedence. Wives of male members also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander; relatives of female members, however, are not assigned any special precedence. Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives. (See order of precedence in England and Wales for the exact positions.)

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix "Sir", and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander prefix "Dame", to their forenames. Wives of Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Dames. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. Furthermore, honorary foreign members and clergymen do not receive the accolade of knighthood, and so are **not entitled** to the prefix "Sir", unless the former subsequently become Commonwealth citizens.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the list of post-nominal letters post-nominal "GCB"; Knights Commander use "KCB"; Dames Commander use "DCB"; Companions use "CB".

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to receive heraldic supporters. Furthermore, they may encircle their arms with a depiction of the circlet (a red circle bearing the motto) with the badge pendant thereto and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter.

Knights and Dames Commander and Companions may display the circlet, but not the collar, around their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. Members of the Military division may encompass the circlet with "two laurel branches issuant from an escrol azure inscribed *Ich dien*", as appears on the badge. Members of the Order of the Bath and their children are able to be married in Westminster Abbey in London.

## Current Knights and Dames

* **Sovereign**: Padanub
* **Grand Master**: *TBD*

Knights and Dames Commander