Orders of Knighthood

Country

Order

Founded

Founder

Description of Badge and Motto

Belgium	Leopold	1832	Leopold II	Eight-pointed white cross edged with gold on a wreath of oak and laurel, suspended from a royal crown; a medallion center bearing a golden lion on a black field, surrounded by a fillet bearing the motto L'Union fait la force ('In union there is strength').
Denmark	Elephant	1462	Christian I, renewed by Christian V in 1693	Silver star bearing a purple medallion on which is mounted a silver or diamond cross surrounded by a silver laurel wreath.
France	Legion of Honor	1802	Napoleon	Five-rayed white enamel and gold star, a female head on the obverse representing the republic, two crossed flags on the reverse.
Great Britain	Bath	1725	George I	Military: gold Maltese cross botonée, enameled white; in each of the four angles a lion of England and in the center a rose, thistle, and shamrock. Civil: gold filigree oval, the external filled, containing a motto, and encircling the same device as the military. Tria juncta in uno ('Three in one') is the motto.
Great Britain	British Empire	1917	George V	Motto: For God and the Empire.
Great Britain	Garter	1350	Edward III	Motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense ('Evil to the one who thinks evil').
Great Britain	Merit	1902	Edward VII	Red and blue enameled cross, central blue medallion bearing the motto For Merit in gold, encircled by laurel wreath; the addition of two crossed swords indicates naval and military members.
Italy	Annunziata	1362	Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy	Gold medal, representing the Annunciation, entwined with chain of knots and roses.
The Netherlands	The Netherlands Lion	1815	William I	Eight-pointed cross with gold W between the arms and a lion in the center.
Norway	St. Olaf	1847	Oscar I	Eight-pointed white cross botonée, national arms on red ground.
Rome, See of	Christ	1318	Diniz of Portugal	Gold-edged Latin cross of red and white enamel, surmounted by eight-pointed star.
Rome, See of	Holy Sepulcher	1496?	Alexander VI	Red enamel cross potent with small crosses between the arms.
Scotland	Thistle	1687	James II	For royalty and 16 Scottish nobles; eight-pointed star with figure of St. Andrew and cross, and thistles on collar. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit ('No one harms me with impunity').
Spain	Alcantara	1215	Salamanca noblemen of Estremadura	Brown, leafless pear tree on gold field.
Spain	Calatrava	1158	Sancho III	Red fleur-de-lis cross.
Spain	Golden Fleece	1429	Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy	Golden fleece suspended from flaming flintstone in enamel; motto: Pretium laborum non vile ('Not cheap is the reward of labor').
Spain	St. James of the Sword	1170?	Ramiro II, king of Leon?	Gold shield, with lily-hilted sword in cruciform.
Sweden	Seraphim	1285	Magnus I	Eight-pointed white cross, seraphs' heads in angles; blue medallion with I.H.S.