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Orders of Chivalry
To help protect and safeguard true knighthood. 
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An old English hymn expresses well the important role that a true knight should play in our day and age:
When A Knight Won His Spurs
When a knight won his spurs in the stories of old
He was gentle and brave he was gallant and bold
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand
For God and for valour he rode through the land
No charger have I and no sword by my side
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride
Though back into storyland giants have fled
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead
So let faith be my shield and let hope be my steed
Against the dragons of anger the ogres of greed
And let me set free with the sword of my youth
From the castle of darkness the power of the truth
Unfortunately, we live in a time of counterfeits. There must be at least 100 self-styled or phony orders of knighthood on the Internet masquerading as real and authentic, yet they have no legitimacy as genuine orders of chivalry. With so many false orders, it become imperative that an organization be established to identify the true orders to protect the public and the honor and good name of what is valid and true. The International Commission on Orders of Chivalry (ICOC) was officially established for this important purpose many many years ago. We salute this organization, which plays an important role in identifying and registering true orders.
The International Commission on Orders of Chivalry (ICOC) has approved the following orders based upon rightful sovereignty and sound principles. We highly recommend that you visit their website at www.icocregister.org and become acquainted with this reputable and important
organization. It is now headed by Dr. Pier Felice degli Uberti.
A. INDEPENDENT ORDERS
1. The Sovereign Military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, called of Rhodes, called of Malta
B. SEMI-INDEPENDENT ORDERS
1. Alcantara (formerly San Julian del Pereiro incorporated with Alcantara 1222)
2. Calatrava
3. Santiago
4. The Teutonic Order of Saint Mary of Jerusalem
5. The Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Order in the Netherlands
6. Montesa (united in 1400 with Saint George dAlfamo founded 1201)
7. Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Knightly Order of Saint John in Prussia
8. The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
9. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
10. The Knightly Order of Saint John in the Netherlands
11. The Knightly Order of Saint John in Sweden
C. DYNASTIC ORDERS
1. ALBANIA: House of Zogu (Islamic) Two Dynastic Orders
2. AUSTRIA: House of Hapsburg-Lorraine (Lothringen) (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
3. BRAZIL: House of Orléans-Bragança (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
4. BULGARIA: House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Orthodox) Three Dynastic Orders
5. FRANCE: House of Bourbon (Catholic) Three Dynastic Orders
6. GERMANY:
Anhalt House of Ascania (Evangelical) One Dynastic Order
Baden House of Zähringen (Evangelical) One Dynastic Order
Bavaria House of Wittelsbach (Catholic) Three Dynastic Orders
Brunswick Brunswick-Lüneburg (House of Hanover) (Evangelical) One Dynastic Order
Hanover House of Guelph (Evangelical) Two Dynastic Orders
Hesse House of Lorraine-Brabant (Reformed now Catholic) One Dynastic Order
Lippe House of Lippe (Reformed) One Dynastic Order
Oldenburg House of Oldenburg (Lutheran) One Dynastic Order
Prussia House of Hohenzollern (Evangelical) Three Dynastic Orders
Hohenzollern House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (Catholic) One Dynastic Order
Reuss House of Reuss (Lutheran) One Dynastic Orders
Saxony: Kingdom of Saxony House of Wettin (Albertine Line) (Catholic) Three Dynastic Orders
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Lutheran) One
Dynastic Order
Saxon Duchies House of Wettin (Ernestine Line: (1) Saxe-Meiningen, (2) Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and (3) Saxe-Altenburg) (Lutheran) One Dynastic Order
Schaumburg-Lippe House of Lippe (Reformed) One Dynastic Order
Waldeck House of Waldeck (Evangelical) One Dynastic Order
Württemberg House of Württemberg (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
7. GREECE: House of Oldenburg (Greek Orthodox) Four Dynastic Orders
8. ITALY:
Kingdom of Italy House of Savoy (Catholic) Three Dynastic Orders
Parma House of Bourbon-Parma (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
Tuscany House of Habsburg-Lorraine (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
Two Sicilies House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
9. JUGOSLAVIA/SERBIA: House Karadjordjevic (Orthodox) Five Dynastic Orders
10. MONTENEGRO: House of Petrovic-Njegos (Orthodox)
Three Dynastic Orders
11. PORTUGAL: House of Bragança (Catholic) Two Dynastic Orders
12. RUMANIA: House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (Rumanian Orthodox) Three Dynastic Orders
13. RUSSIA: House of Romanov-Holstein-Gottorp (Orthodox) Eight Dynastic Orders
D. OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF CHIVALRIC CHARACTER
Ancient chivalric institutions, originally founded as orders, subsequently revived by the dynastic successor of the founding authority.
1. PORTUGAL: House of Bragança (Catholic) One Institution of Chivalric Character
New chivalric institutions founded by the head of a formerly reigning dynasty.
1. GEORGIA: House of Bragation (Orthodox) One Dynastic Order
2. ITALY: House of Savoy (Catholic) One Dynastic Order
3. RUSSIA: House of Romanov-Holstein-Gottorp (Orthodox) Two Dynastic Orders
Successors of chivalric institutions originally founded under the authority of a State.
1. HUNGARY: One Institution of Chivalric Character
There is a lot more important information on each of these orders, on their history, principles and membership on the website of The International Commission on Orders of Chivalry (ICOC). For information on each of these orders, please see their website at www.icocregister.org.
They also have a list of extinct orders, other approved chivalric institutions, noble corporations, and nobiliary bodiesthat are authentic or the real thing. Please be aware that there are a lot of counterfeits out there. See the article called "The Self-Styled Orders" written by Guy Stair Sainty at www.chivalricorders.org/orders/self-styled/selfstyl.htm.
How to Become a Member of a Legitimate Order of Chivalry
We, of the International Commission on Nobility and Royalty (ICNR), applaud the fine work of the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry (ICOC). Their work is essential and critical to the future of what is true and genuine. Many people through the years have valiantly
carried the voice of warning about those who are not what they claim to be, but the ICOC has organized a way of discerning very quickly by list authentic chivalric organizations.
It is believed that one of the reasons that people join phony orders of chivalry is because there are so many self-styled orders in existence, and because they do not know how to become a member of a true order. It seems self-evident that no one really wants to be a part of something that has no legitimacy---something false or counterfeit. But many good people end up doing this, even though many of these individuals are worthy in every way of something infinitely better.
Therefore, we have determined that, with the help of others, we will attempt to show how one can become a member of an authentic order. This will take time. It is a difficult venture, but worthwhile.
Remember that knighthood in its highest sense is both an honor as well as a responsibility. Knighthood, at its highest, is a form of a quest for greatness. It is a remote and heartless, if it
only means sending a yearly check. Chivalry should be inseparably connected to such virtues as being courageous, brave, loyal, courteous and true. Many of the genuine and authentic orders are composed of people who have already accomplished great things for benefit and good of mankind. Becoming such a knight is one of the highest honors one can receive in this life. The rolls of knights obviously should not be filled by prominent businessmen, lawyers and politicians. It should be filled with the good hearted of all socioeconomic classes.
There are orders that are more open to new members than others and respect the goodness of the common man. They are equally valid orders and want men and women who desire to contribute their small share and are willing to do so for the rest of their lives. Though those contributions may seem relatively small, they add up to something truly great in the life of a man or woman. In other words, some become knights by virtue of what they have already done in the past. Others can become knights by virtue of their determination to create a life worthy of true knighthood.
For the truly worthy, we have taken upon ourselves the project of helping them find out how to become members of those orders which are open to new membership. Please contact us. (See also: "General Philosophy & Practices")
Secular State Orders and
Orders of True Chivalry
An important distinction should be made between a true order of chivalry and a secular state order. The insignia of a state order often mimics or imitates the decorations of true orders conveying true knighthood, but has no ceremony, no oath of loyalty to high ideals, no bonds of brotherhood, no tradition of a quest, no call to fight evil, promote good, defend the helpless and the oppressed, in sum, nothing to commit one to a higher level of life and living before the source of all authority and power in the heavens. Secular orders are stripped of loyalty to king, nobility, heraldry, truth, and religious influence. In a nutshell, they have lost the ancient spirit and purpose of chivalry. Hence, the International Commission on Nobility and Royalty does not support state orders as conferring valid and authentic knighthood. (Information and ideas originally taken from Stephen P. Kerr, JD, "A Factual and Juridical Study of the Dynastic Orders and Awards of the Habsburg Monarchy," The Augustan Society Omnibus Book, Issue 8, 1986, pp. 2-5)
We encourage you to read and enjoy the articles that follow, which are informative and can deepen one's understanding of the whys and wherefores as well as the true and permanent rights of royalty, nobility and chivalry. The following articles are considered to be especially important and valuable:
For "Contact" information or to join the Commission as a contributor or apply for
certification for titles, knighthood, status or ancestry, please first read the "Disclaimer and Obligatory Contract." If you fully agree with them, you are welcome to contact us, make contributions, answer our survey and/or become a part of this important cause. Our goals and mission are to protect the public from counterfeit titles, phony knighthoods and fake genealogies. We also want to certify the true and the genuine as well as promote chivalry, royalty and nobility. We need your support. There is so much that needs to be done. We invite you to contribute and join with us.
We welcome your answers to the seven questions on our "Survey" page and to make a comment if you like. But, first, before you do so, please read either the article entitled "IDEALS" and/or the one entitled "ADVANTAGES."
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