Difference between revisions of "Noble Order of Westarctica"
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| {{flagiconstart|Flag of Scone.jpg}} Willamina Moray || 2022 | |||
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[[Category:Orders of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Orders of Westarctica]] | ||
Revision as of 08:55, 5 August 2022
The Noble Order of Westarctica was the first Order of Chivalry created by Grand Duke Travis. It was created to recognize exceptional leadership qualities in foreign Heads of State, but the criteria was later expanded to include any monarch or peer. Knights are entitled to use the postnominal "OW" and companions are entitled to the postnominal "CW."
Creation of the Order
Although the Noble Order of Westarctica was the highest honor listed in the 17 March 2005 Royal Decree Revising the Orders of Westarctica which dealt with the four original Orders of Chivalry in Westarctica, it first came into use in 2004, around the time the Grand Ducal Mandate was decreed. The section of the March 2005 decree on the Noble Order read:
This Noble Order is designed to recognize exceptional leadership characteristics in foreign Heads of State. There is one class, Knight. The regalia for this Order is a blue sash (or riband) worn across the right shoulder to the left-side waist.
Hereditary nature of the Order
The Noble Order of Westarctica is the only Order of Chivalry that is hereditary in nature. When the holder of the knighthood, even an honorary knighthood, dies, the honor is bestowed upon their heir. In most cases, as the order is only bestowed upon nobles or international Heads of State, whichever of their heirs assumes the throne or title becomes the new bearer of Westarctica's knighthood as well.
It's important to note that in the case of abdications, a knight does not lose their knighthood merely because they are longer upon the throne. In the cases of monarchs who have abdicated, but are still living (King Juan Carlos, Queen Beatrix, King Gyanendra, and King Albert), they retain their honorary knighthood until their death.
The first inheritance of a knighthood in the Noble Order of Westarctica occurred upon the death of Prince Rainier III of Monaco on 6 April 2005. His Serene Highness's honorary knighthood, which had been bestowed less than a year prior, passed to his son, Prince Albert II, who still holds it to this day.
Classes
On 11 March 2021, Grand Duke Travis issued a Royal Decree that expanded the number of classes from one to two.
- Knight: Awarded to monarchs in recognition of excellent leadership.
- Companion: Awarded to peers of any nation in recognition of their nobility of character.
Knights of the Order
The first knighthoods in the order were bestowed through the mail upon twelve reigning monarchs on 20 November 2004. As these were foreign leaders, the knighthoods were only honorary.
On 7 March 2005, honorary knighthoods were bestowed upon the exiled heirs of the Imperial thrones of Iran and Ethiopia. Due to an oversight in researching the Ethiopian Imperial bloodline, the knighthood was wrongly bestowed upon Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, a cousin of the actual Emperor-in-exile. This oversight was corrected on 30 May 2018 when His Imperial Highness was stripped of the honor.
On 4 April 2005, President Kevin Baugh of Molossia was given an honorary knighthood. He remains the only non-royal, non-noble Knight of the order.
List of Knights
| Name | Year of appointment | Previous Holder(s) of Knighthood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica |
2004 | Sovereign of the Order | |
 Queen Elizabeth II of England |
2004 | ||
 Queen Margrethe II of Denmark |
2004 | ||
 King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden |
2004 | ||
 King Juan Carlos I of Spain |
2004 | Abdicated in 2014 | |
 Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands |
2004 | Abdicated in 2013 | |
 King Harald V of Norway |
2004 | ||
 King Albert II of Belgium |
2004 | Abdicated in 2013 | |
 King Gyanendra of Nepal |
2004 | Monarchy abolished in 2008 | |
 King Letsie III of Lesotho |
2004 | ||
 Prince Reza Pahlavi of Iran |
2005 | Royal in exile. Monarchy overthrown in 1979 | |
 Prince Albert II of Monaco |
2005 | Rainier III (2004-2005) | First heir to inherit a knighthood |
 Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg |
2005 | ||
 President Kevin Baugh of Molossia |
2005 | Only non-royal member | |
 King Tupou VI of Tonga |
2012 | Tupou IV (2004-2006), Tupou V (2006-2012) |
Companions of the Order
On the occasion of Westarctica's 20th Anniversary, on 2 November 2021, Grand Duke Travis created 15 Companions of the Noble Order of Westarctica by issuing a Royal Decree listing the 20th Anniversary Honors and Appointments. Several members of this inaugural group were knighted in person at Westarctica's 20th Anniversary Celebration.
List of Companions
| Name | Year of appointment |
|---|---|
| Prince-Consort Dinny |
2021 |
| Prince David Chase Callahan |
2021 |
| Jordan Framer, Duke of the Bear Peninsula |
2021 |
| Wolf Tulier, Duke of Waesche |
2021 |
| Jon-Lawrence Langer, Duke of Moulton-Berlin |
2021 |
| Michael Hammett, Duke of Tapley |
2021 |
| Logan Mullins, Duke of the Gothic Mountains |
2021 |
| Lars Vorlander, Duke of the Balchen Glacier |
2021 |
| Spencer M Dayton, Duke Van Valkenburg |
2021 |
| Danni Michele, Countess of Carter |
2021 |
| Deborah McHenry Countess of Benton |
2021 |
| Daniel Paul Means, Count of Cranton |
2021 |
| Christian Klempsmann, Viscount of Bursey |
2021 |
| Joachim Adlfinger, Baron of Dorrel |
2021 |
| Lyle H. Sorrell, Viscount of Adams |
2021 |
| James Stoshak, Count of Faulkender |
2021 |
| August Grappin, Duke of Fox Grove |
2021 |
 Prince Paul of Wy |
2022 |
 Willamina Moray |
2022 |