Current Orders of Chivalry
See also: Chivalric orderThe current system is made up of ten orders of chivalry. The statutes of each order specify matters such as the size of the order, the use of post-nominal letters and insignia design and display.
| Complete name | Ranks / Letters | Ribbon | Established | Founder | Motto | Awarded to/for | Associated awards | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Most Noble Order of the Garter | Knight (KG) Lady (LG) |
23 April 1348 | King Edward III | Honi soit qui mal y pense ("shame upon him who thinks evil of it") | Relating to England and Wales | None | ||
| The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle | Knight (KT) Lady (LT) |
29 May 1687 | King James VII & II | Nemo me impune lacessit ("No one provokes me with impunity") | Relating to Scotland | None | ||
| The Most Honourable Order of the Bath | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCB) Knight/Dame Commander (KCB/DCB), Companion (CB) |
18 May 1725 | King George I | Tria iuncta in uno ("Three joined in one") | Civil division: senior civil servants; Military division: senior military officers | None | ||
| The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCMG) Knight/Dame Commander (KCMG/DCMG) Companion (CMG) |
28 April 1818 | King George IV (as Prince Regent) | Auspicium melioris ævi ("Token of a better age") | Diplomats and colonial service | None | ||
| The Distinguished Service Order | Companion (DSO) - plus bars | 6 September 1886 | Queen Victoria | None | Military officers in wartime | None | ||
| The Royal Victorian Order | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO) Knight/Dame Commander (KCVO/DCVO) Commander (CVO) Lieutenant (LVO) Member (MVO) |
21 April 1896 | Queen Victoria | Victoria ("Victory") | Services to the Crown | The Royal Victorian Medal, The Royal Victorian Chain | ||
| The Order of Merit | Member (OM) | 23 June 1902 | King Edward VII | For merit | Military, science, art, literature, culture | None | ||
| The Imperial Service Order | ISO | 8 August 1902 | King Edward VII | For faithful service | Civil servant for 25 years (in administrative or clerical capacity) | The Imperial Service Medal | ||
| The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | Knight/Dame Grand Corss (GBE) Knight/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE) Commander (CBE) Officer (OBE) Member (MBE) |
4 June 1917 | King George V | For God and the Empire | Miscellaneous (military and civil) | The British Empire Medal | ||
| The Order of the Companions of Honour | Companion (CH) | 4 June 1917 | King George V | In action faithful and in honour clear | Arts, science, politics, industry, religion | None |
Read more about this topic: Orders, Decorations, And Medals Of The United Kingdom
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“I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists and calculators has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is extinguished forever.”
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