Order of Our Lady of the Thistle

The Order of the Thistle was a French Knights. Stifter was the Duke of Burgundy Ludwig II and the foundation date was January 1, 1370th The selected date coincided with the daughter of the Count of Auvergne with the marriage of the founder and was also dedicated to Virgin Mary. As occasion, the disunity of the Orleans family is assumed to be the Burgundian house. The founding of the order should moderate the unrest. The Dukes of Bourbon were Grand Master of the Order. Honored were 26 knights.

Order decoration

The decoration consisted of a golden chain of diamonds. Here the word Esperance was woven twice. For the same metal was the shield, on which the Mother of God was pictured surrounded with a glory. Twelve silver stars they crowned and a half moon lay at her feet. Below the medallion, a head of a thistle was placed, which was eponymous for the Order.