From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
is a
British
order of chivalry
. It was founded by
George I
, on 18 May 1725. The name comes from an old ceremony, first mentioned in 1128. In the ceremony, men participated in a
vigil
of
fasting
,
prayer
, and taking a bath. They did this on the day before they were made a
knight
. The
ceremony
was abolished in 1815.
The Order is made up of the Sovereign (the
British Sovereign
), the Great Master (vacant since
Charles III
became King), and three classes of members: (Highest to lowest)
- Knight
or
Dame Grand Cross
(GCB)
- Knight or
Dame Commander
(KCB or DCB)
- Companion
(CB)
Because the Order was originally founded as a military order of chivalry, its star (referred to in this use as a "pip") is worn as army officers' rank insignia. Members of the order now belong to either the Civil or the Military Division. The Order's motto is
Tria juncta in uno
(
Latin
for "Three joined in one"). This is a reference to either the union of
England
,
Scotland
and
Ireland
, or to the
Holy Trinity
. A symbol of the Order that is seen over and over has three crowns in it. Another motto,
Ich dien
(
German
for "I serve") is used occasionally, but only by members of the military division of the Order.
The Order is the third oldest of the
British Orders of Chivalry
, after
The Most Noble Order of the Garter
,
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
, and before
The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick
. The last of those Orders?which relates to
Ireland
, no longer a part of the United Kingdom?still exists, but is no longer active; no appointments have been made to it since 1934.
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Current orders
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Dormant orders
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Other honours
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