The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order. The Order consists of the Sovereign and sixteen Knights and Ladies, as well as certain extra knights. The primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland.
About Order of the Thistle in brief
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order. The Order consists of the Sovereign and sixteen Knights and Ladies, as well as certain extra knights. The primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland. Its motto is Nemo me impune lacessit, the same motto appears on the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland and some pound coins. The patron saint of the order is St Andrew, who is also patron of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Scots Guards, and The Black Watch of Canada. The claim that James VII was revives an earlier order is generally not supported by the evidence. It remains in existence and is used to recognise ‘who have held public office or contributed significantly to national life’ ‘The Kings of Scots, later Kings of Great Britain and later the Kings of the Great Britain, have served as Sovereigns and served as Knights’ – the Order’s current Sovereign, James VII. In 1783 an Irish equivalent, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, was founded, but it is now dormant. In 1558, a French commentator described the use of the crowned thistle and St Andrew’s cross on Scottish coins and banners but noted there was no Scottish order of knighthood.
In 1610 William Fowler, the Scottish secretary to Anne of Denmark, believed that there had been an Order, founded to honour Scots who fought for Charles VII of France. He thought it had been discontinued in the time of James V, and could say nothing of its ceremonies or regalia. Most historians consider the earliest credible claim to be the founding of. the Order by James III, during the fifteenth century. He adopted theThistle as the royal badge, issued coins depicting thistles and allegedly conferred membership of the “Order of the Burr or Thissil” on Francis I of France, but there is no conclusive evidence for this. The most senior Order pertains to Scotland, is the second most senior in precedence. Its equivalent in England is The Most Noble order of the Garter, which dates to the middle fourteenth century, and is the oldest documented order of. chivalry in the UK. It was founded by James V in the sixteenth century but lapsed by the end of that century. After James was deposed by the 1688 Glorious Revolution, no further appointments were made until his younger daughter Anne did so in 1703, so the Order would continue in existence in so far as it was described as ‘the ancient Order’
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