The Order of the Golden Fleece, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious chivalric honors, is once again in the spotlight. King Felipe VI of Spain is preparing to bestow four distinctions at once, including one for his mother, Queen Sofía. Until now, the only recipient of the order from the current monarch was his eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, who received the honor at the age of ten.
This time, the list of honorees is particularly distinguished. Alongside Queen Sofía, the highest award of the Spanish crown will go to former Prime Minister Felipe González and two of the ‘fathers’ of the modern Spanish Constitution—Miquel Roca and Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón. The ceremony is timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy in Spain.
The history of the Order dates back to 1429 in Burgundy. It was founded by Duke Philip III to mark his marriage to Isabella of Portugal. Originally, the order was linked to the struggle against the Ottoman Empire, but after the founder’s grandson, Charles I, became King of Spain, Spanish monarchs assumed the role of grand masters. During the Reformation, membership was limited strictly to Catholics. The symbolism of the order is rich and layered: the golden collar is adorned with the coats of arms of the Dukes of Burgundy, and from it hangs a golden lamb—a symbol of Bruges and a reference to the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The links of the grand master’s chain contain the letter ‘B’, recalling Burgundy.
The exclusive status of this award is underscored by the fact that during the reign of Juan Carlos I, only about twenty people received it. The order is not hereditary; after the death of a knight or dame, the insignia must be returned to the crown. Recipients are entitled to the address “Your Excellency” and can add a special red mantle to their coat of arms.
Today, there are only 19 living holders of the order worldwide: fifteen men and four women. Among them are King Felipe VI himself, as well as the monarchs of Sweden and Norway. At various times, politicians such as Javier Solana and Nicolas Sarkozy have received it. However, not everyone has readily accepted this honor. It is known that Francisco Franco twice declined the offer to become a knight of the order.
The necklace is valued at approximately €50,000, although recently one example dating back to 1850 was sold at auction in Madrid for €70,000. The order has also been linked to curious incidents. For instance, the Japanese imperial family seems to be plagued by bad luck: Emperor Hirohito lost his order during World War II, and years later his son, Emperor Akihito, misplaced the award along with his luggage on a flight from Tokyo to Madrid in 1994. To make up for this loss, the Spanish monarchy presented him with a new piece four years later.
