The Bruges Garter Book is a 15th-century Anglo-Norman illuminated manuscript containing portraits of the founder knights of the Order of the Garter. It was created sometime between about 1430 to 1440, probably in London, to the order of William Bruges, Garter King of Arms, and constitutes the first armorial covering members of the Order. It has been held since 1883 by the British Library in London under catalogue reference Stowe MS 594, indicating its former existence within the Library of the Dukes of Buckingham at Stowe House.
William Bruges dressed as Garter King of Arms, kneels before St George, from his Garter Book
Image: Edward III of England (Order of the Garter)
Image: Edward the Black Prince 1430
Image: Portrait of Henry, Duke of Lancaster William Bruges's Garter Book (c.1440 1450), f.8 BL Stowe MS 594 (cropped)
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, it is outranked in precedence only by the decorations of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. The Order of the Garter is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint.
Badge of the Order embroidered onto the left shoulder of a Knight's blue velvet mantle
Henry of Grosmont, Earl (later Duke) of Lancaster (d. 1361), the second appointee of the Order, shown wearing a tabard displaying the royal arms of England over which is his blue mantle or garter robe. Illuminated miniature from the Bruges Garter Book c. 1430 by William Bruges, first Garter King of Arms
"Roy" Edward III, King of England. Bruges Garter Book.
Statutes of the Order of the Garter, this copy having once belonged to Emperor Alexander III of Russia
