History of the Sovereign Order of the Oak
The Sovereign Order of the Oak has a very ancient
history going back to the era of the Visigoths 376 A.D. In Sir Ivan de la Bere, 'The Queen’s
Orders of Chivalry', London, 1964, points out that. . . "Though the
birth and growth of knighthood in Europe is a subject on which great obscurity
prevails, it is at least certain that it is the most ancient dignity of
Christendom". Ashmole; “The Institutions, Laws and Ceremonies of The Most
Noble Order of the Garter” 1672 AD. Page 48, Sec.ll, para. 4. says “Upon which
account also the Military Orders of the Oak in Navarre, the Gennet
in France, the Crown Royal among the Frizons, the Dove in Castille,
and the Bear in Switzerland, took their beginning; and hitherto may
be referr’d as the foundation of the most Noble Order of the Garter, as
shall appear anon”. In
pre-medieval times there were no Orders of Chivalry in the modern sense, but
certain rules of chivalrous behavior existed and those rules were, in many ways,
similar to those in force in the middle ages. The chiefs of the ancient
Teutonic tribes, including the Visigoths, were attended by a "train"
of martial youths and similar custom’s prevailed over most of ancient Europe. Later, these trains of youths became roving
bands of knights, bound to each other and to their chief by vows of loyalty and
fidelity. This early idea of knighthood was wholly military in purpose, but
included elaborate ceremonial rites of passage into the companions of the band.
The
Visigoths, who in 376 A.D. were threatened by the Huns, sought the protection
of Valens, Emperor of the Roman Eastern Empire (364-378 A.D.), who gave them
permission to migrate to Moesia (Bulgaria). Many of them enlisted in the Roman
forces, but were maltreated by the Roman officers, and a revolt ensued that
culminated in the battle of Adrianople, in which Emperor Valens was killed. His
successor Theodosius I made peace with the Goths and from that time the
Visigoths were an important influence in the Roman Empire.
The
Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse, a vassal of Rome, was established in 419 A.D.
and included the territory from the strait of Gibraltar north to the Loire
river. For a long period the Kings of Toulouse implanted Roman culture and
Christianity in Visigothic Spain.
In
554 A.D. the King settled in Toledo and established the capital of the
Visigothic Kingdom, but after years of war the greatest source of disruption
was the Visigothic elite itself. The monarchical system, that they had
introduced into Spain, and which, for the first time made the peninsula a
nation in it's own right, instead of a collection of tribes, was elective, not
hereditary. Therefore every nobleman was his King's peer and was desirous of
succeeding him. On the death of a King, vicious fights broke out between the
nobles who wished to take his place, then, in the seventh century the task of
unification was undertaken by King Chindaswinth and the result was the liber-Judiciorum.
This code, which has left its lasting mark on Spanish life and literature, is
the lasting monument to the Visigothic State. In the same period of history,
Mohammed the Prophet arose (570-632 A.D.) and Islam became a potent military
force and expanded into the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa. It was in these
times that the succession to the thrones became hereditary, hence the
succession was known in advance and the fighting amongst the nobles to succeed
the Kings ceased.
MILITARY ORDER OF THE OAK of Navarre
King Pelayo , (other sources say Don Garcia Ximenes,
but most sources agree on the date of 718-722 A.D. as to the foundation of this
Order), were the driving force responsible for the re-conquest of the Iberian
peninsular. Their emblem (later a coat of arms) was a modification of the Cross
of Calvary, for by this time Spain was a Christian State, and according to
legend, the Visagothic Knights saw a vision the night before the battle of
Covadonga; that of a cross with forked ends shining above an oak tree, the first
Moline Cross, (see page 10.). The two Kings won a great
victory at Covadonga and Pelayo and Garcia banded the victorious knights
together as companions of the La Confradernidad de la Encina, loosely
translated into English ‘The Order
of the Oak’ of Navarre, ref. “The Institutions, Laws and ceremonies of
the Most Noble Order of the Garter” Ashmole“(1672) p.48, Sec ll, para.4 .The
Kings also changed the Royal device of three crowns to the same moline cross
atop an Oak Tree, which thus became associated with the Visigothic Kings, Ordo
equestris (Plate 6). According to Giustinian, 'Historia Cronologich on
Origin of Orders', Venice, 1692 . . ."this Order of the Oak appeared
during the Pontificate of Gregory II in the years 718-722 A.D., using the
emblem of the moline cross and the motto "non tiembo millia
circumdantes me" - "I will not tremble though a thousand strong
surround me." Very little is known about the Order in these early years.
The Moors occupied the peninsula for the next few hundred years and the Knights
of the Oak fought many battles from their bastions of Aragon and Navarre.
Order of the Knights of St. Saviour in Aragon
The Order of the Oak was the predecessor of Knights
Sancti Salvatoris en Aragonia dictus Montis Regalis, known as Knights of
St. Saviour, which was founded by Alphonso I, the Battler, King of
Aragon and Navarre in 1118 A.D., and this Order's arms (Plate 7) were the same
forked cross (moline cross) adopted by its predecessor, the Order of the Oak,
Ashmole, "Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the
Garter", London, 1672. says: . . .
" About the year of our Lord 1118 was this Order
erected by Don Alphonso...who chose out of those Spanish and French Nobles and
Knights, that assisted him in his wars against the Moors, a certain few,
whereof he formed this Society.". . .Giustinian, whose major work on Orders of Chivalry was published in
1692, (twenty years after Ashmole 1672) gives the exact text of the letters
patent handed down by Bellojo referring to the Sovereignty over territory
granted to the Knights of -Sodalitium Equestri Sancti Salvatoris in urbe
Montis Regalis, and the Order became known as the Order of San Salvator in
Aragon called of Monte Reale, or more briefly, Knights of St. Saviour. The
original document was written in latin and firmly establishes in 1118 A.D. the derivative
sovereignty of the Order over the Castle and City State of Montis Regalis,
(Mount Royal.) The original of Giustinian’s work is in the Central National
Library Victor Emmanuel II in Rome; its position in the library is 6.16.N..1, (
Plate 5 ). The translation follows:
In MCXV111
(1118 A.D.)
ALPHONSO
Known as Spanish Emperor, King of Navarre and Aragon, as well as Leon, Castille and Toledo through his consort Urraca; and having driven the Moors out of Castrangusta and all Aragon more easily than was foreseen; and judging they could only be defeated with great courage, and being sure that further great difficulties would arise, with more honour for the bravest actions, trusting his followers who were happier after the victories, with the leaders being both Spanish and French, who have very often carried out actions in favour of the Christians. As a reward for their courage;
ESTABLISHES
THE SOVEREIGNTY
of the Knights of the Order Sancti Salvatoris in the
city of Monte Regale after Calatajud was taken at the border with the enemies
of the faith.
(Bellojo
being the witness to list the leaders.)
The Aragonese Kings were all Grand Masters of the
Order and it’s Sovereign Rights have been recognised formally on many
occasions, such as:
The
Will of King James I, King of Aragon
(1261).
The
Decree and letters patent signed by King Francis ll
of
the Two Sicilies. (1860).
As can be seen from the chart of succession on page
17, the Order passed to the House of Ayerbe-Aragon-Paterno in 1700 A.D. and
from that date the de jure Head of Line in each generation was also
Grand Master of the Order. Some European "experts" have disputed
this, but the documentary evidence is indisputable. Although it was
largely inactive throughout the two hundred and eighty years until 1980 A.D.
when it passed from the House of Ayerbe-Aragon-Paterno to H.S.H. Prince Joseph
Louis Gregorio who became its XXlll Grand Master. Prince Gregorio abdicated by
a decree signed on the Island of Malta in 1982 to his Grand Magistry, headed by
one Augusto Guiseppe M. Agazzi, who was named Regent, with full powers, in the
letters patent of abdication. On 8th. January 1989 in a formal ceremony the
Order of St. Saviour passed by letters patent from its Regent Grand
Master, Augusto Guiseppe M. Agazzi, to his duly appointed Grand Magistry, who, later on, in May of
1989, elected George, Head of the
English House of Howarth, as the XXIV GrandMaster, and who, at the written
request of his Grand Magistry, granted himself letters patent as H.S.H. Prince
of Montis Regalis and Duke of Mon Real, as the XXIV Sovereign Grand Master;
H.I.&R.H. Prince August von Hohenstaufen-Franz of Swabia, Head of the
Imperial House of Hohenstaufen, and direct descendant of Frederick II, Holy
Roman Emperor, through King Manfred of Sicily, confirmed recognition of the
titles shortly afterwards by letters patent dated 21 April 1990.
In
modern times the names, laws, ceremonies etc., of ancient Orders of Chivalry
are not universally understood. But being such an important part of European
history and heritage it was thought that the name of the Order, which had its
beginnings long, long, ago as the Military Order of the Oak of Navarre, founded in 722 A.D., that this
name would be more consistent with recorded history and therefore more
appropriate. Accordingly, the XXIV Grand Master made the first decree of his
reign, which stated:
"As from
this day, January 8th in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and
eighty nine, which is one thousand two hundred and sixty seven years after our
ancestors formed the Military Order of the Oak of Navarre; and that for
centuries was also known as Knights of St. Saviour in Aragon; and reflecting
the Sovereignty granted by King Alphonso I, shall from this day revert to the
name given to it by its founding Kings and it shall henceforth, once again, be
known to all men as:
"(Sovereign)
Order of the Oak "
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
ASHMOLE, E. Institutions Laws and Ceremonies of the
Most Noble Order of the Garter, London,1672.
GIUSTINIAN, Historia
Cronologiche dell'origine degli Ordini, Venice 1692.
JAMES I, King
of Aragon, Last will and Testament.
DE LA BERE, I. The
Queen’s Orders of Chivalry, London, 1964.
SHNEIDMAN, G. The Rise of the Aragonese-Catalan Empire 1200-1300,
New York, 1970.
SANTIPPOLITO,
C. Dagli
Aragona ai Paterno, Il Ghibellino, n. 1V-V, p. 1-8, 1960.
LABARRE de RAILLICOURT A. Rois et Reines
d'espagne, Les Cahiers de histoire, No.6 1961, p.p. 134-148.
PIETRAMELLARA, G. Elenco
degli Ordini Equestri, Rome, 1901.
CLARK, H. Orders
of Knighthood, Vol. 1.
SUCCESSION OF GRAND MASTERS OF THE ORDER
[After
Sovereignty over Montis Regalis in 1118 A.D.]
I 1118 A.D. Alphonso I, the battler, King of Aragon & Navarre
(Created the Order Sovereign).
II 1134 A.D. Ramiro, brother of Alphonso.
III 1137 A.D. Raymond Berengario, Count of Barcelona, King of Navarre, son-in-law
of Ramiro.
IV 1162 A.D. Alphonso II, son of Raymond.
V 1196 A.D. Peter II, son of Alphonso.
VI 1213 A.D. James I, The Conqueror.
VII 1276 A.D. Peter III, King of Sicily, son of James I.
VIII 1286
A.D. Alphonso, son of Peter.
IX 1292 A.D. James II, King of Sicily.
X 1327 A.D. Alphonso IV, son of James II.
XI 1339 A.D. Peter IV, son of Alphonso.
XII 1387 A.D. John I, son of Peter IV.
XIII 1397
A.D. Martin, brother of John
l
l _______________________ __________________
House of Ayerbe-Aragon-Paterno King
of Aragon and Castille
Head of House succession House of Trastamara
1700-1981 Extinct in 1700.
|
XXIII 1981 A.D. H.S.H. Prince
Joseph Louis Gregorio (abdicated Malta 1982) to the Regency of Grand Chancellor
Augusto Guiseppe M. Agazzi.
XXIV 1989
A.D. H.S.H. George, Prince Montis
Regalis