Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
The Order of the White Eagle is the highest order of merit of the Republic of Poland and one of the oldest distinctions in the world still in use. It was officially instituted on 1 November 1705 by Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, and bestowed on eight of his closest diplomatic and political supporters. It has since been awarded to the most distinguished Poles for their merits and to the highest-ranking representatives of foreign countries.
Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
Augustus the Strong wearing the original Order of the White Eagle with an embroidered Grand Cross. Portrait by Louis de Silvestre from around 1718
Diamond star belonging to King Augustus the Strong of Poland-Saxony
Collar of the Order of the White Eagle
An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades and paired with medieval concepts of ideals of chivalry.
Alfonso XIII of Spain (left) with his cousin-in-law, the future King George V (right), during his State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1905. Alfonso is wearing the uniform of a general of the British Army, the Royal Victorian Chain, the sash and star of the Garter, the cross of the Order of Charles III, the neck badge of the Golden Fleece, and the badge of the four Spanish military orders. George, then Prince of Wales, is wearing the neck badge of the Golden Fleece, the sash and grand cross grade of the Order of Charles III, the Royal Victorian Chain, and the stars of the Garter and the
Investiture of three new members of the Order of the Knot (miniature from the order's statutes, 1352/4).
Spanish orders of chivalry. In the centre, the Order of the Golden Fleece, 1820
Lemuel Francis Abbott's portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson depicting his honours embroidered on his coat jacket