Order of the Golden Fleece

Timeline

1. 1430Bruges · FlandersPhilip III established the order in Bruges, taking the Greek mythological Golden Fleece as its badge, enrolling the first twenty-four knights, and setting rules of faith, honor, and loyalty.
2. 1435Ghent · FlandersThe first chapter assembly at Ghent in 1435 established the system of regular meetings; new knights were invested with the collar of the Golden Fleece, and the order's insignia became an important symbol of Burgundian diplomacy and courtly glory.
3. 1441–1450Dijon · BurgundyBetween 1440 and 1450, as the Duchy of Burgundy's power expanded, the order attracted princes from various kingdoms; its chapter rituals and court culture reached their peak, setting the standard for chivalric honor in Western Europe.
4. 1477–1700Spanish and Austrian courts · EuropeAfter the Burgundian dukes died out, the order passed to the Habsburgs, forming the Spanish and Austrian branches of the Golden Fleece, continuing into the modern European systems of royal honors.