Order of the Golden Fleece

The Order of the Golden Fleece (Orden del Toisón de Oro in Spanish) is an order of chivalry founded in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabelle of Aviz.

The Austrian Order

The Austrian Order did not suffer from the political difficulties of the Spanish, remaining an award solely for Catholic royals and nobles. The problem of female inheritance was avoided on the accession of Maria Theresa in 1740 as sovereignty of the Order passed not to herself but to her husband, Francis.

Related Topics:
Maria Theresa - 1740 - Francis

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On the collapse of the Austrian monarchy after World War I King Albert I of Belgium requested that the Sovereignty and treasure of the Order be transferred to him as the ruler of the formerly Habsburg lands of Burgundy. This claim was seriously considered by the victorious allies at Versailles but was eventually rejected due to the intervention of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, who took possession of the property of the Order on behalf of the dethroned emperor Karl. Sovereignty remains with the head of the house of Habsburg, but the present head Otto has transferred the sovereignty to his eldest son Karl.

Related Topics:
World War I - Albert I of Belgium - Versailles - Alfonso XIII of Spain - Karl - Otto - Karl

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