Order of the Thistle (France)

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The Order of the Thistle was a French knightly order . The founder was the Duke of Burgundy Ludwig II and the date of the foundation was January 1, 1370. The chosen date coincided with the marriage of the founder to the daughter of the Count of Auvergne and was also dedicated to the Virgin Mary . The disagreement between the von Orleans family and the Burgundian house is taken as the occasion . The founding of the order should moderate the unrest. The dukes of Bourbon were grand masters of the order. 26 knights were honored .

Order decoration

The decoration consisted of a golden chain of diamonds. The word Esperance was woven in here twice. The shield on which the Mother of God was surrounded with a glory was made of the same metal. Twelve silver stars crowned them and half a moon lay at their feet. Below the medallion was a head of a thistle, which gave the order its name.

literature

  • HKE Köhler's collected writings, by Heinrich Karl Ernst von Koehler, editor Ludolf Stephani, 1853