The history of Knights of the Bath
The Order of the Bath began life in medieval times not as an order of knighthood, but rather as a higher 'degree of knighthood'.
Those who were honoured with the degree were initiated by a series of solemn rituals, including bathing as a symbol of spiritual purification.
There was, however, no chapel for the Knights of the Bath and no statute laying down a code of conduct.
The creation of the Order
The medieval rituals were performed for the last time at the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. In 1725, King George I instituted a new order of knighthood, to be known as the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.
At the time, only the Orders of the Garter and Thistle were available to reward chivalry. Only Scots were eligible for the Thistle, however, and the Garter allowed for just 24 knights. The new Order of the Bath therefore provided 36 additional high ranking knighthoods.
The statutes of the new Order included the medieval rituals in detail. Knights-to-be were escorted to the Palace of Westminster where they took their bath and were put to bed, wearing a russet (a coarse reddish-brown fabric) robe. They were awoken shortly afterwards to begin a long night of prayer and vigil in the Lady Chapel of King Henry VII at Westminster Abbey.
Once the long night was over, they were given medicinal wine and spices and briefly put to bed before being woken by a trumpet's call.
They were then ready to don the crimson robe of the Order of the Bath and be installed as a new knight.
These rather nostalgic rituals were never practiced, however. Each new knight was simply dispensed from observing them. He was required only to be installed in Westminster Abbey. The Dean of the Abbey was made Dean of the Order, and installation services were held at intervals from 1725 to 1812.
The statute also ordered that members should continue to wear the badge which had been used by the former Knights of the Bath since the reign of King James I and VI. The badge depicts three crowns, a reference to the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. The original motto would also continue to be used: 'Tria Juncta in Uno' (three joined in one).
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The Order and the Napoleonic Wars
From about 1770 to 1815 the Knights of the Bath were drawn increasingly from the ranks of admirals and generals as Britain was at war almost constantly during this period, providing many opportunities for men to prove their bravery and chivalry.
In 1797, the Order's most famous member, Admiral Lord Nelson, was invested as a knight by King George III. A wax effigy of him wearing his insignia of the Order of the Bath remains in Westminster Abbey to this day.
By the time the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, the number of candidates for knighthood was endless, and the Order had to be expanded accordingly. The Knights Companions now became Knights Grand Cross and were joined by a second class, entitled Knights Commander and a third class entitled Companions. A small number of civilian appointments were still made to the first class, but the second and third classes remained exclusively the preserve of the armed forces until civilians were admitted in 1847.
The existing badge of the Order was altered for the military division: a laurel wreath was added, along with the motto 'Ich Dien' (I serve). The English lion was also inserted between the arms of the cross.
Other well-known members of the military Order have included The Duke of Wellington, Earl Haig and Earl Kitchener of Khartoum.
The Order and Westminster Abbey
The Order continued to reward bravery and service throughout the various conflicts of the nineteenth century. Though Investiture ceremonies for new knights continued to take place, the installation ceremony was abandoned after 1812 and formally abolished in 1847.
After his accession to the throne in 1910, King George V ordered that the installation ceremony should be revived. Existing members of the Order donated funds to create stalls for 46 Knights Grand Cross in the Lady Chapel of King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, where the Knights Companions had been installed from 1725 to 1812.
The first installation service of the modern era was held in Westminster Abbey in 1913 in the presence of the King and the Duke of Connaught, the Order's Great Master.
The Chapel displays the enamelled stall-plates of the majority of the Knights Companions and Knights Grand Cross created since 1725, and the banner, crest and mantling of each current Knight Grand Cross.
Because the number of Knights Grand Cross is far greater than the number of available stalls, Knights Grand Cross may have to wait many years before a stall becomes vacant. Among those to be installed on 17 May 2006 is Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Craig of Radley, who was made a Knight Grand Cross in 1984.
Each stall displays the knight's helm (or helmet) which bears his crest; his mantling symbolising the cloth that would have help protect his armour from the rain or sun; and his banner bearing his coat of arms, which were often worn in battle as a tabard.
There is also a half drawn sword above each stall, representing every knight's duty to be constantly ready to defend his Sovereign.
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The Order of the Bath today
Today, the Order is still regarded as one of the highest British honours which can be awarded.
The Queen is Sovereign of the order and The Prince of Wales is Great Master, having been installed in 1975.
The Statutes of the Order limit membership to 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB), 355 Knights Commander (KCB) or Dames Commander (DCB) and 1,925 Companions (CB).
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During The Queen's reign, the custom of giving an honorary Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath to visiting presidents was begun, and famous recipients have included President Ronald Reagan of the USA in 1989 and President Lech Walensa of Poland in 1991.
Women were admitted to the Order from 1971 and in 1975 the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was made Dame Grand Cross.
The Installation Ceremony
An installation ceremony has been held every four years since 1978. This year's ceremony will take place on 17 May 2006. The Prince of Wales attends every ceremony, whilst The Queen attends every eight years.
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General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin, is made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. |
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The ceremony marks the installation of new Knights Grand Cross in the Lady Chapel of King Henry VII. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the life and history of the order and to remind its members of the duties associated with their positions.
The ceremony begins with the arrival of The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard in their scarlet tunics, closely followed by the Great Master, then the Sovereign.
A few moments later, the procession of Officers and Knights Grand Cross enters.
After a lesson read by the Dean, the Bath King of Arms gives the Book of Statutes (which lays down codes of conduct for members of the order) to the Great Master, who passes it on to the existing knights.
The Knights Grand Cross are then installed by repeating an oath after the Dean before being delivered to their stalls by the Great Master.
If Her Majesty is present, she will make an offering of gold and silver at the altar, before the newly installed Knights Grand Cross make their own offerings and have their swords placed upon the altar by the Dean, which are then returned to them.
The ceremony concludes with a thanksgiving and blessing from the Dean and celebrates the history and the present of one of the oldest and most prestigious orders of chivalry.
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