Order of the Holy Spirit

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Order cross
Order chain ( Collier de l'Ordre )

The Order of the Holy Spirit ( French Ordre du Saint-Esprit ) was the most important knightly order in France and one of the most respected in Europe.

History and structure

The order was in December 1578 by Heinrich III. founded in gratitude to the Holy Spirit for the benefits that were bestowed on him on three days of Pentecost , when he was born on Pentecost in 1551, became King of Poland in 1573 and King of France in 1574 .

In addition to the Grand Master, who was always the King himself, there were three classes:

  • the eight commanders ( commanders ) (first divided into four cardinals and four archbishops , bishops or prelates , later eight bishops or prelates without special distinction) and the Grand Almoner of France ( Grand AUMONIER de France ), the born commander was.
  • The four commanding officers ( Officiers Commandeurs ), i.e. the Chancellor and Keeper of the Seal ( Chancelier et Garde des Sceaux ), the Master of Ceremonies ( Prévôt et Maître des Cérémonies ), the Treasurer ( Grand Trésorier ) and the Secretary ( Greffier ), were appointed by the officers ( Officiers ; Intendant, genealogist, law enforcement officer, historiographer, etc.).
  • 100 knights ( chevaliers )

The heir to the throne ( Dauphin ) and the king's children ( Enfants de France ) were knights by birth, but only from the age of 12, princes of the blood from the age of 16 and foreign princes from the age of 25. All other members had to be at least 35 years old. In addition, those to be admitted had to be Catholic and noble in four generations. The last condition did not apply to the Grand Aumônier de France , the treasurer and the secretary.

The sign of the order was a gold, white enameled cross with eight buttons and lilies in the four corners. On the obverse of the green enamelled central shield was a silver dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit , on the lapel of St. Michael .

The motto was: "duce ​​et auspice" ( under leadership and direction , also in the plural: "ducibus et auspicibus" ). The order was carried over the right shoulder on a wide sky-blue shoulder band (hence le cordon bleu ), as well as a silver breast star , similar to the obverse of the cross; from 1824 also with green center plate. The clergy wore it around their necks. The order flourished until the French Revolution . The National Convention abolished it, and Napoleon I did not restore it either.

It was not until Louis XVIII. rebuilt it in 1814. With the July Revolution of 1830 it finally went under.

All Knights of the Holy Spirit were also members of the Ordre de Saint-Michel and as such were best known as the Chevalier des Ordres du Roi instead of the long Chevalier de Saint-Michel et Chevalier du Saint-Esprit .

Order members

gallery

literature

  • Père Anselme : Statuts es catalogue des chevaliers, commandeurs et officiers de l'Ordre du Saint-Esprit [from December 31, 1578]. In: Historie généalogique et chronologique de la maison royale de France. Volume 9 (1733), pp. 1ff.

Web links

Commons : Order of the Holy Spirit  - Collection of images, videos and audio files