Noble Order of Westarctica

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Grand Duke Travis in 2005 wearing the sash of the Noble Order of Westarctica

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 leader with a noble title.

Creation of the Order

Although the Noble Order of Westarctica was the first order 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 was actually first came into use 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 of Westarctica's knighthood as well. It's important to note that a knight does not lose their knighthood if they are no longer upon the throne, so in the cases of monarchs who have abdicated, but are still living (King Juan Carlos, Queen Beatrix, King Gyanendra, 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.

Knights of the Order

The first Knights of 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 heirs of the Imperial thrones of Iran and Ethiopia.

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 Honorary Knights

Name Year of appointment Notes
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica 2004 Sovereign of the Order
link={{{2}}} Queen Elizabeth II of England 2004
link={{{2}}} Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 2004
link={{{2}}} King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden 2004
link={{{2}}} King Juan Carlos I of Spain 2004
link={{{2}}} Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands 2004
link={{{2}}} King Harald V of Norway 2004
link={{{2}}} King Albert II of Belgium 2004
link={{{2}}} King Gyanendra of Nepal 2004
link={{{2}}} King Letsie III of Lesotho 2004
link={{{2}}} Prince Reza Pahlavi of Iran 2005
link={{{2}}} Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia 2005
link={{{2}}} Prince Albert II of Monaco 2005 First heir to inherit a knighthood
link={{{2}}} Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg 2005
Flag of Molossia.png President Kevin Baugh of Molossia 2005 Only non-royal member
link={{{2}}} King Tupou VI of Tonga 2012 Inherited from line of Tupou IV
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