- Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ
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Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ 
Cross of the OrderAwarded by The Royal House of Georgia Country Georgia Type Neck order Statistics Established 13th century, revived in 1939 Precedence Next (higher) Order of the Saint Queen Tamar Next (lower) none The Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ or Order of the Eagle of Georgia. is one of the dynastic orders of knighthood of the Royal House of Georgia, originally founded by the Saint Queen Tamar of Georgia and later revived by HRH Prince Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani in 1939. The Grand Mastership of the Order has remained with the successors of Prince Irakli and the current Grand Master is HRH Prince David.[1]
Contents
Original founding and restoration
Tradition holds that Queen Tamar created this order to organize Georgian knights in her effort to provide aid to the Empire of Trebizond in the early 13th century.[1]
The naming and symbolism of the Order are tied to the traditional origins of the Royal House of Georgia, as it claims descent from the line of David. The use of the seamless robe of Jesus as the main symbol is part of that tradition.
The Order having been inactive for centuries, was revived in 1939 by HRH Prince Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani in his attempt to organize the expatriate Georgians (who had fled the Communist regime) with the goal of restoring the monarchy in Georgia.[1]
Membership
Membership in the Order may be bestowed upon individuals of any citizenship, religion or gender for recognition of services to Georgia, the Royal House or the monarchical cause.
The grades of the Order are [2]
- Knight/Lady of the Grand Collar
- Knight/Lady Grand Cross
- Knight/Lady Grand Officer
- Knight/Lady Commander
- Knight/Lady
Notable members
Some of the more notable personalities that have accepted membership in the Order of the Eagle are:[3]
- King Umberto II of Italy
- Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria
- Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia
- Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
- Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II
- Infante Miguel, Duke of Viseu
- Crown Prince Nicholas II of Montenegro
- Don Carlos Gereda y de Borbon, Marqués de Almazán
- Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville
- H.I.H. Archduke Andreas Salvator of Habsburg-Lorraine, Prince of Tuscany
- HIRH Archduke Carlos of Habsburg-Lorraine and Bourbon
- HIRH Archduke Francis Joseph of Habsburg-Lorraine and Bourbon, Bourbon-Seville
- Duke Francisco de Borbón y de Borbón
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople[4]
Heraldry
Knights and dames of the Order have specific heraldic regulations related to how to display their insignia with their coat of arms. Permission to display their insignia is granted via the Royal College of Arms of Georgia that also regulates all heraldry for the Royal House.[5]
Specifically, these are the rules:[5][1]
- Knights Grand Collar and Knights Grand Cross may encircle their arms with the Collar of the Order
- Knights Grand Officer may use a circular ribbon 3/4 around their arms
- Knights Commander and Knights may drape the medal of the Order beneath their arms
External sites
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Order history". Royal House of Georgia. http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle/order-history. Retrieved 2011-7-24.
- ^ "Grades and Decorations". Royal House of Georgia. http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle/grades-and-decorations. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ "Distinguished members". Royal House of Georgia. http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle/order-distinguished-members. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ "THE PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE DECORATED BY THE HEAD OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF GEORGIA". Royal House of Georgia. http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/news/Offical-Events/The-Patriarch-of-Constantinople-decorated-by-the-Head-of-the-Royal-House-of-Georgia. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
- ^ a b Andreou, Kimon (2011-04-11). "Heraldic privileges of the Knights of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia". IDTG. http://www.idtg.org/archive/1315-heraldic-privileges-of-the-knights-of-the-order-of-the-eagle-of-georgia/. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
Categories:- Monarchical orders
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Georgia (country)
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