Difference between revisions of "Noble Order of Westarctica"

The '''Noble Order of Westarctica''' was the first [[Orders of Westarctica|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.

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 around the time the [[Grand Ducal Mandate]] was decreed. The section of the March 2005 decree on the Noble Order read:

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 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, 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 [[Westarctica-Monegasque Relations|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.

On 7 March 2005, honorary knighthoods were bestowed upon the exiled heirs of the Imperial thrones of Iran and Ethiopia.

===List of Honorary Knights===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:65%; background:white; border:#01796f solid;"

! Name || Year of appointment || Notes

| {{flagiconstart|Flag of Westarctica.jpg|Westarctica}} [[Grand Duke Travis]] of Westarctica || 2004 || <small>''Sovereign of the Order''</small>

| {{flagiconstart|Flag of UK.png}} Queen Elizabeth II of England || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Denmark.png}} Queen Margrethe II of Denmark || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Sweden.png}} King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Spain.png}} King Juan Carlos I of Spain || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Netherlands.png}} Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Norway.png}} King Harald V of Norway || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Belgium.gif}} King Albert II of Belgium || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Nepal.png}} King Gyanendra of Nepal || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Lesotho.png}} King Letsie III of Lesotho || 2004 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Iran.png}} Prince Reza Pahlavi of Iran || 2005 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Ethiopia.jpg}} Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia || 2005 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Monaco.gif}} Prince Albert II of Monaco || 2005 || <small>''First heir to inherit a knighthood''</small>

| {{flagiconstart|Luxembourg.png}} Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg || 2005 ||

| {{flagiconstart|Flag of Molossia.png|Molossia}} [[President Kevin Baugh]] of [[Republic of Molossia|Molossia]] || 2005 || <small>''Only non-royal member''</small>

| {{flagiconstart|Tonga.png}} King Tupou VI of Tonga || 2012 || <small>''Inherited from line of Tupou IV''</small>