The Shire of Loch Cairn, Meridies

Orders of Knighthood
Order of the Blue Garter

The Order of the Blue Garter was founded in the middle of the 14th century by Edward III. It took as its badge, a blue garter, symbol of unity, of being joined together in honor and knightly virtue. At their installation of their knights, "The valyntest men of the relm," were exhorted: "Tie about thy leg for thy renown this noble Garter, wear it as the symbol of the most illustrious order, never to be forgotten or laid aside, that thereby thou mayest be admonished to be courageous and having undertaken as just war... that thou mayest stand firm and valiantly and successfully conquer." The Knights wore their insignia for the first time in the New Year of 1348 at the royal palace of Eltham.
In its early years, the Order was restricted in number to Edward, the Black Prince, and twenty-four other worthy knights. In theory, the number remains the same today, though in practice it is increased by extra categories of knights (e.g. Foreign Princes). The Prince of Wales is always a member, as descendant of the Black Prince. Women have also been eligible since the order began.
The tale that told of the founding of the Order and the adoption of its motto is that while the princess Joan of Kent was dancing at a ball in Calais her garter dropped to the ground. Edward III bound it around his knee and reproved the smiles of the court with the words, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." -- "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it." or "Evil be to him who evil thinks."

In service to Lochland Vale,
-Lord Milo FitzLyon

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home		The Shire of Loch Cairn, part of the Kingdom of Meridies, is located in Manchester, Winchester, Tullahoma, McMinnville, Sewanee, and Lynchburg TN.
What's New		Orders of Knighthood Order of the Blue Garter The Order of the Blue Garter was founded in the middle of the 14th century by Edward III. It took as its badge, a blue garter, symbol of unity, of being joined together in honor and knightly virtue. At their installation of their knights, "The valyntest men of the relm," were exhorted: "Tie about thy leg for thy renown this noble Garter, wear it as the symbol of the most illustrious order, never to be forgotten or laid aside, that thereby thou mayest be admonished to be courageous and having undertaken as just war... that thou mayest stand firm and valiantly and successfully conquer." The Knights wore their insignia for the first time in the New Year of 1348 at the royal palace of Eltham. In its early years, the Order was restricted in number to Edward, the Black Prince, and twenty-four other worthy knights. In theory, the number remains the same today, though in practice it is increased by extra categories of knights (e.g. Foreign Princes). The Prince of Wales is always a member, as descendant of the Black Prince. Women have also been eligible since the order began. The tale that told of the founding of the Order and the adoption of its motto is that while the princess Joan of Kent was dancing at a ball in Calais her garter dropped to the ground. Edward III bound it around his knee and reproved the smiles of the court with the words, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." -- "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it." or "Evil be to him who evil thinks." In service to Lochland Vale, -Lord Milo FitzLyon Back to Archive
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