Every year in June the knights of the various Orders of Chivalry gather together for their Annual Knight's Meeting. This past Saturday we saw the largest meeting to date as now more than ever, Royals and Nobles alike join in resurrecting the old traditions of knighthood and its accompanying responsibilities. This year the event was held in St Ottokar's Cathedral in the new Kingdom of Syldavia. King Nikolas III felt it would be solidifying the already pro-Royal sentiments expressed by the Syldavian people if the pageantry of the meeting was displayed in his capital city.
The hosts of the meeting, Queen Maxima and King Nikolas of Syldavia. King Nikolas also serves as the head of the Order of the Syldav Cross.
The standard dress code for these meetings are formal with bow tie and tiara for the ladies or court dress.
The Princess of Wallachia as the head of the Order of the Ublient.
The pretender to the Ruskian throne and former contested head of the Order of the Polar Star, Grand Duchess Xenia of Ruskiana.
Queen Maria of Hispania is the head of the Order of the Triad.
The Grand Duke of Hanoveria (center) is the head of the Order of the Polar Star.
Queen Gloria of Normandia (center) is the head of the Order of the Lake.
The headship of an Order of Knighthood is normally attached to a Sovereign's titles and is the only "knighthood" that is not bestowed but inherited. All other knighthoods are earned and bestowed.
The Crown Prince Imperial is de facto head of the Order of the Diamond Star and in that capacity heads up these meetings.
It is very interesting to note that former monarchies with living claimants to related former titles are recognized by courtesy in existing monarchies. As such all attached titles are recognized and as such at a meeting like the Annual Knight's meeting the precedence of the Order of the Diamond Star exceeds all the other knighthoods and its head, the Crown Prince Imperial takes center stage as the highest precedence even though the Crown Prince Imperial is not the current head of state but an exiled Prince.
Princess Augusta and the Duchess of Roswind.
Prince Louis D'Pont du Lac (left) is the pretender to the throne of Franconia. However unlike the Crown Prince Imperial of Scot-Britania who's throne was lost in the 96 Revolution, the Franconian throne was lost more than 200 years ago. As hardly any hope of a restoration exists and as Royal traditions have faded into obscurity, the Knighthood Order attached to the Franconian throne, namely the Order of the Holy Vigil has lapsed into complete disuse. In white we see Infanta Isabella of Hispania, then Prince Felix Youssopoff and Princess Kirsten Youssopoff.
The full congregation of Knights included from left: Prince Louis D'Pont du Lac, Princess Isabella of Hispania, The Prince and Princess Youssopoff, Grand Duchess Xenia of Ruskiana, the Baron Bagrazia, the Princess of Wallachia, the Queen of Hispania, the Duke of Swann, Empress Crystobel, the Crown Prince Imperial, the Crown Princess Imperial, the Grand Duke of Hanoveria, the Grand Duchess of Hanoveria, Princess Beatrice, Dowager Grand Duchess of Hanoveria, the Queen of Normandia, the Prince of Northwold, Queen Maxima of Syldavia, the King of Syldavia, Princess Augusta of Scot-Britania and the Duchess of Roswind. Notable absentees were Prince Dillon of Swann and Don Miguel, Duke of Toledo.
It is interesting to note also that the current pretender to the throne of Monagask and that of the throne of Fulco D'Este don't hold any knighthoods other than those traditionally held by their pretended titles as sovereigns of the mentioned former monarchies. As such they do not attend these meetings as similarly to the Prince D'Pont du lac their Orders of Knighthood have been in complete disuse. The Prince D'Pont du Lac attends in his capacity as a Knight in the Order of the Polar Star. This topic was on the agenda of this year's meeting and we may see these defunct Knighthoods being restored in a symbolic capacity regardless of whether their countries see an official restoration of their monarchies.
Hello from Spain: The hosts of the meeting is very elegant. The jewels are magestuosas. I like the clothes of the boys. keep in touch
ReplyDeleteThank you Martha. I'm so glad you like it.
Delete"Prince Louis D'Pont du Lac (left) is the pretender to the throne of Franconia."
ReplyDeletePlease excuse my ignorance, but if i don't ask such questions on this blog... how ever would I find out...? Is the term 'pretender' to the throne same as the 'successor'...?
Thank you :-)
A pretender is a successor who is barred from ascending a throne. He could be barred because the throne has been discontinued due to a monarchy having been replaced by another form of government like a democracy. This is the case of Franconia. He could also be barred due to the throne being occupied by another like a conqueror or a usurper. The Crown Prince Imperial is the pretender to the Imperial throne of Scot-Britania and to the individual Royal thrones of the Kingdom of Scotney and the Kingdom of Britania.
DeleteThank you for the explanation Your Highness Duke of Swann!
ReplyDeleteI am certainly slowly but surely learning about Royalty... not much... as I could not possibly retain all you write and share on this blog... but more than I ever knew till now! THANK YOU!