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by Too Much Time On My Hands on September 3rd, 2004

Too Much Time On My Hands

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What are the Knights of the Bath and the Knights of the Garter, and where did their names come from?

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  • by Daryzun on August 29th, 2005

    Daryzun

    The Knights of the Bath and the Knights of the Garter are persons granted the Orders of Bath and the Garter, respectively.

    The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III of England around 1345-50; there are several myths suggesting exactly why Edward chose to have done this. One myth states that he recalled a vision of St. George appearing to Richard I and suggesting that he wear garters in battle. Another one supposes that Edward was dancing with a female (usually "the countess of Salisbury" or "the countess of Kent") whose garter slipped off and fell; while the courtiers made fun of her, Edward supposedly picked up the garter, and said "Shame on those who think ill of it". The phrase (in its Latin translation) is the motto of the Knights of the Garter, and is embroidered on the actual garter. Both women and men can be admitted to the Order of the Garter.

    The Order of the Bath was founded by George I of England in the 1720s. It's called The Order of the Bath due to an outdated ritual performed by the newly knighted. A newly-made Knight would take part in a night time vigil, during which he would fast and bathe to purify himself. While newly-made Knights no longer had to do this, the Order paid homage to this tradition.

    The Order of the Garter usually counted various European royals as members, although the current Emperor of Japan is a Knight of the Garter (as are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and a number of other present-day monarchs).
    The reigning British monarch is considered the head of the Knights of the Bath, although women couldn't be part of this order until the 1970s. Also, only the British can be full members of the Order of the Bath, foreigners can only be honorary members. U.S. President Eisenhower was one of those.

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