(SOCIETY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE)
La
Confrérie Amicale de la Toison d'Or is an association of those interested
in the Order of the Golden Fleece, working to preserve its history and further
the aims of the Order in bringing the peoples of mankind together for the common
good. For Duke Phillip it symbolised the union of Flanders and Burgundy and
the rebirth of the central Lotharingian kingdom of Charlemagne's descendants.
The Habsburg heirs of Burgundy continued the union of an empire of many peoples
spanning the world, with the Golden Fleece as the highest reward for piety,
service and loyalty to principles wider than individual gain.
We especially honor the following of those ideals by Archduke Karl of Habsburg
and His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, the current heads of the two branches
of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Through their efforts the Golden Fleece remains
the symbol for the highest service of mankind through a life of selfless duty.
The Confrérie Amicale de la Toison d'Or is open to any person deeply
interested in the order and desirous of furthering its aims and principles.
It is organized as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Washington
in the United States.
For more details or to join please contact Stephen
Herold, cancelier of the Confrérie.
Note that the the application form is no longer active.
Please use the PayPal
account steve@booksatoz.com for dues payment.
A
spectacular find, pictured above, was made some 40 years ago in Gelderland
in the Netherlands of a highest quality golden fleece while some students
were having a picnic next to some ruins The fleece is now identified as
being made for Claus Vijgh in 1559 by order of King Philip II of Spain
and .is now on permanent display in the Tiel Museum, at Tiel in the Netherlands,
in a fine custom display including a contemporary portrait of a daughter
of Claus Vijgh (seen at right). It is worth seeing if you visit the Netherlands.
Complete details can be seen on our Aldenhaag
Golden Fleece Report.
The famous and essential
Insignie Orden book is now available with a copy we recently received
back from an original purchaser. The original distributor still has one
copy at over $3,900 U.S. and our is available for only $1,800. Samples
of the book can be seen at our Insignie Orden
page. Contact us to puchase it.
¶ Other things the Confrérie has done can be seen at the
Recent Activities page.
A brief history of the Order and the origins of its symbols.
Pictures and descriptions of the collars, bijous, miniatures and other insiginia
of the order.
A complete list of all of the knights who were awarded the order of the Golden
Fleece -- Burgundian, Austrian and Spanish.
A complete list of the six knights who were awarded the order of the Golden Fleece
by King Joseph.
A complete list of all of the knights who were awarded the order of the Golden
Fleece by the six Carlist pretenders to the throne.
A brief, illustrated history of the important Schwartzenberg family from Bohemia,
members of the Order since 1627.
An introduction to the history of the famous Habsburg genetic aberation, by member
John Sipple.
A site of historical objects where period orders and medals can be found, including
Golden Fleece bijous.
An account of the early (Burgundian & Habsburg) history of the order by
Guy Stair Sainty with much useful detail. An essential reference. His pages
on the Spanish
Fleece and the Austrian
Fleece are equally good, but his internal navigation links are often old
and unreliable.
An illustrated monograph of the solutions to wearing the collar of the order
with armor. Based on the Real Armería collection in Madrid that was willed
by Philip II to the nation.
A review and some sample pages and art from this magnificent reference book.
HABSBURG RELATED SITES
The official website of His Majesty Juan Carlos of Spain.
The personal website of Archduke Otto von Habsburg.
Center for Austrian Studies
Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire
Habsburg Biographies
Schönbrunn Palace Home Page
The Société Napoléonienne
Please send comments or suggestions to:
The Editor
Copyright © La Confrérie Amicale 1996-2010. All rights reserved.
Medals,
Orders & Decorations