Difference between revisions of "Noble Order of Westarctica"

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| {{flagiconstart|Principality of Wy-flag.png}} Prince Paul of [[Principality of Wy|Wy]] || 2022
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[[Category:Orders of Westarctica]]
[[Category:Orders of Westarctica]]

Revision as of 08:55, 5 August 2022

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 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

Badge for a Companion of the Noble Order of Westarctica

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
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 Abdicated in 2014
link={{{2}}} Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands 2004 Abdicated in 2013
link={{{2}}} King Harald V of Norway 2004
link={{{2}}} King Albert II of Belgium 2004 Abdicated in 2013
link={{{2}}} King Gyanendra of Nepal 2004 Monarchy abolished in 2008
link={{{2}}} King Letsie III of Lesotho 2004
link={{{2}}} Prince Reza Pahlavi of Iran 2005 Royal in exile. Monarchy overthrown in 1979
link={{{2}}} Prince Albert II of Monaco 2005 Rainier III (2004-2005) 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 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
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Prince-Consort Dinny 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Prince David Chase Callahan 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Jordan Framer, Duke of the Bear Peninsula 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Wolf Tulier, Duke of Waesche 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Jon-Lawrence Langer, Duke of Moulton-Berlin 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Michael Hammett, Duke of Tapley 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Logan Mullins, Duke of the Gothic Mountains 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Lars Vorlander, Duke of the Balchen Glacier 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Spencer M Dayton, Duke Van Valkenburg 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Danni Michele, Countess of Carter 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Deborah McHenry Countess of Benton 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Daniel Paul Means, Count of Cranton 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Christian Klempsmann, Viscount of Bursey 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Joachim Adlfinger, Baron of Dorrel 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg Lyle H. Sorrell, Viscount of Adams 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg James Stoshak, Count of Faulkender 2021
Flag of Westarctica.jpg August Grappin, Duke of Fox Grove 2021
link={{{2}}} Prince Paul of Wy 2022
link={{{2}}} Willamina Moray 2022