Order of Saint Michael
The Order of Saint Michael (French: Ordre de Saint-Michel) is a French dynastic order of chivalry, founded by King Louis XI of France on 1 August 1469, in response to the Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the dukes of Orléans, Berry, and Brittany. As a chivalric order, its goal was to confirm the loyalty of its knights to the king. Originally, there were a limited number of knights, at first thirty-one, then increased to thirty-six including the king. An office of Provost was established in 1476. The Order of St Michael was the highest Order in France until it was superseded by the Order of the Holy Spirit.
| Order of Saint Michael Ordre de Saint-Michel | |
|---|---|
Badge of the Order | |
| Awarded by the King of France | |
| Type | Dynastic order |
| Established | 1 August 1469 |
| Royal house | House of France |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholicism |
| Ribbon | Black |
| Motto | Latin: Immensi tremor oceani |
| Status | Abolished by decree of Louis XVI on 20 June 1790 Reestablished by Louis XVIII on 16 November 1816 Abolished in 1830 after the July Revolution Recognised as a dynastic order of chivalry by the ICOC |
| Founder | Louis XI of France |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of the Holy Spirit |
| Next (lower) | Order of Saint Louis |
Ribbon of the Order | |
Although officially abolished by the government authorities of the July Revolution in 1830 following the French Revolution, its activities carried on. It is still recognised by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry.