the Order of the Golden Fleece

In 1422, Philip III was awarded the Order of the Garter by the King of England. In order not to offend the titular lord, the King of France, Philip III declined this honor. On January 10, 1430, Philip III celebrated his marriage to the princess of Portugal and created the Knights of the Golden Fleece in the name of St. Andrew, but unlike the Knights of the Garter, the Knights of the Golden Fleece only designated St. Andrew's Day as the main festival of the Order, and did not paint the patron saint on the coat of arms.

Like the Garter Knights, the number of Knights of the Golden Fleece was also limited, starting with 24, increasing to 30 in 1433, and 50 after 1516. To become a Knight of the Golden Fleece means to accept the sovereignty of the Grand Duke of Burgundy and not to join other similar knights. Since Philip III stipulated that the lord of the Golden Fleece must consult the Knights of the Golden Fleece before deciding whether to fight against other countries, the Knight of the Golden Fleece soon became the most prestigious of various knights in Europe.

In 1506, Charles V inherited the title of Grand Duke of Burgundy, marking the official incorporation of the Duchy of Burgundy into the Holy Roman Empire, and the sovereignty of the Knights of the Golden Fleece was transferred to the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V further stipulated that if the Knights of the Golden Fleece committed crimes, they must be tried jointly by other knights; no knight could be arrested unless at least six knights agreed; during the trial, the accused were not detained, but their knights were placed under house arrest. Charles V also stipulated that only Catholics could join the Knights of the Golden Fleece. After Charles V's death, the sovereignty of the Knights of the Golden Fleece was transferred to his son Philip II and his descendants, the Spanish Habsburgs.

In 1700, Charles II, the last Habsburg monarch of Spain, died, and the Spanish throne fell to Philip V of the Bourbon Dynasty. Subsequently, the Habsburgs of Austria and the Bourbons of Spain both claimed seyalty over the Knights of the Golden Fleece, and each party ultimately awarded the order. However, no matter how the chivalry's seigneur changed, its certificate was always written in French.

The Order of the Golden Fleece is in the shape of a golden sheep's wool pendant suspended from a collar with 28 flint chains. The pendant is in the shape of a capital "B" for Burgundy, and the motto of the Knights is engraved on the front: "Pretium Laborum Non Vile" (hard work will be rewarded). On the reverse

It is engraved with the motto of Philip III: "Non Aliud"(Do not obey others). After the 16th century, the medal was often worn on a red ribbon.