St Thomas Honours System
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The St Thomas honours system is used to reward people for personal bravery, achievement or services to the nation in St Thomas. The system dates back many hundreds of years.
All honours are grantyed by the sovereign in his role as the 'fount of honour' who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. The only exception to this is appointments to the order of the soverieng which lies in the personal gift of the monarch.
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[edit] The Peerage
The Peerage is the system of title of nobility in St Thomas and is generaly considerd the highest grade of honour. Peers come in two types: Hereditary and Life peers. Hereditary peerages are passed on from one generation to another whilst Life Peerages are only held by the person they are created for during their lifetime. Peers are also entitle to sit on the Council of Lords, the upper house of the St Thomas Parliament.
Peerages are awarded to a range of reasons. Many are political appointees who wish to continue their career in politics without retaining their seat in the House of Commons. Others can be former public servants or senior military officers, there are also awards made to people from the arts such as actors and to notable charity workers or businessmen.
Peerages come in four ranks (in order of seniority): Duke, Earl, Viscount and Baron. With the female equivalents being Duchess, Countess, Viscountess and Baroness. Nearly all life peers are Barons. Some peerages also carry a territorial designation e.g.: Viscount Hall of Raseby or may be the name of the person alone e.g.: Baroness Browne. Some peers of higher ranks hold multiple peerage titles and their heirs will use them as courtesy titles.
[edit] Orders of Chivalry
The Orders of Chivalry are the most common honours awarded. The orders of chivalry date back hundreds of years and continue to be awarded today.
The current order of precedence for the orders are (including dates of foundation):
- The Most Noble Order of St Thomas (1256)
- The Most Noble and Honourable Order of the Sovereign (1502)
- The Most Honourable Order of St James (1710)
- The Royal Military Order (1768)
- The Most Noble and Ancient Oorder of the Harp (1812)
- The Most Honourable Order of the Dragon (1842)
- The Order of the Companions of Honour (1891)
- The Order of State (1980)
- The Order of the Royal Kingdoms (1993)
- The Order of the Medal of King Henry (1996)
[edit] Order of St Thomas
The Order of St Thomas is the most senior order of chivalry and the oldest. It was formed by King Edward I in 1256 in honour of his father King Thomas but it's dedication was changed to St Thomas of the Justinians (the person whom the national comes from) in 1345 by King William.
Today the order consists of The Sovereign (the monarch), the Grand Master (always the Duke of St Thomas) and 20 Knights or Ladies. Ladies were first admitted to the order in 1980 and Stranger Kinghts began to be admitted in 1991.
The levels in the order are:
- Knight or Lady (KT or LT)
[edit] Order of the Sovereign
The Order of the Sovereign was first instituted in 1502 as the Order of the Royal Lion and was for personal service to the King. The name was changed in 1992 and the order continues to be held in high regard as a personal gift from the sovereign. The order is limited to 12 Knights or Dames.
The levels in the order are:
- Knight or Dame (KS or DS)
[edit] Order of St James
After the conquest of St James by King Luke, Luke made his son (Edward) Prince of St James and ran the annexed lands on behalf of his father. In 1710 to honour those who served his son King Luke created the Order of St James and placed in the charge of the Prince of St James. Today it is the only order that does not have the monarch as it's sovereign. Instead the Prince of St James is the Great Prince of the Order and the Monarch is the First Knight. It is used to honour those who have served the nation in relation to diplomacy and foreign affairs.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCJ)
- Knight or Dame Commander (KCJ or DCJ)
- Companion (CJ)
[edit] Royal Military Order
The Royal Military Irder was created to honour senior officers within the Armed Forces in 1768 by King George II after his war with Kye. The order originaly consisted of 12 Knights that was increased to 24 in 1804 and to 56 in 1875. Today appointments continue to be made only from the military and it is the only order which does not permit the acceptance of women.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight (KRMO)
- Commander (CRMO)
- Officer (ORMO)
- Member (MRMO)
[edit] Order of the Harp
The Order of the Harp was created by King Peter I in 1812 following the union with Kye to honour those from Kye. It is named after the symbol traditionaly used on standards in Kye, the Golden Harp. The order began to admit females in 1980 and from 2006 the monarch will act on the advise of the First Minister of Kye instead of the Prime Minister when making appointments.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight or Dame (KH or DH)
[edit] Order of the Dragon
The Order of the Dragon was created in 1842 to honour those who give services to parliament. Membership is not just limmited to MPs and Peers but the majority of members do fall in to one of these categories. Speakers of the House of Commons are traditionaly made Knights of the order upon retirement. The order's sovereign is the monarch and the Grand Master is currently Lord John Scott.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight or Dame (KD/DD)
- Prefect (PD)
- Officer (OD)
- Member (MD)
[edit] Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded in 1891 by King Peter II on his acession as a reward for those who made outstanding contribution to the arts, litterature, music, science, politics or religon but only recieved to intakes of members before British Rule began in 1896. King Andrew V who used the title Duke of Llundudy during british rule began to make appoitnments again in 1934 although these were never officialy recognised by the British. The Comapions of Honour was restored with the other old orders in 1980 upon the resotration of the monarchy. The honour bestows no title on the holder but does entitle them to use the prefix CH.
Levels of the Order are:
- Companion of Honour (CH)
[edit] Order of State
Upon Independence from Great Britannia in 1976 their became a need to transfer the honours given to St Thomas Citezens by the British Government to a St Thomas order. To do this the Order of State was created. It has always admitted men and women and is the biggest order in the honours system. The current Gran Master is Her Majesty Queen Kate the Queen Dowager. Female High Court Judges are traditionaly created Dame Commanders.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCSO)
- Knight or Dame Commander (KSO or DSO)
- Commander (CSO)
- Officer (OSO)
- Member (MSO)
[edit] Order of the Royal Kingdoms
As part of a review of the honours system completed in 1991 it was reccomended a new order be created to honour people who make high achievement in general. King John therefore created the Order of the Royal Kingdoms in 1993 and it is seen as 'modern order'. There is no limittation on membership and many ordinary citizens are made members of the order for their specific achievements. It is often used to reward sportsmen and women. The Order's Grand Master is His Royal Highness the Earl of St Annes.
Levels of the Order are:
- Knight or Dame (KRK or DRK)
- Knight Junior or Dame Junior (KJRK or DJRK)
- Commander (CRK)
- Lieutenant (LRK)
- Memebr (MRK)
[edit] Order of the Medal of King Henry
Whilst being the junior of the orders, appointment to the Order of the Medal of King Henry is considerd and great honour. The monarch bestows the honour upon an individual for service in the armed forces, science, arts literature or the promotion of culture. Members are simply referd to as medal holders and carry no title.
Levels of the Order are:
- Medal Holder (MH)
[edit] Other Honours
[edit] Baronetcy
A Baronetcy is a clash between a hereditary peerage and a knighthood. Baronets carry the title sir and their title passes down the family line but holders are not entitle to sit on the Council of Lords. Baronetcies and no longer generaly awarded the last being 1981. Baronets may use the post nominals Bt.
[edit] Knight Bachelor
The honour of Knight Bachelor means that a man has been knighted but is not a member of the one of the regular orders. All male judges of the High Court are made Knight Bachelor on appointment. There is no female equivalent of Knight Bachelor and women deserving this dignity are generaly made Dames of the State Order. Knights Bachelors are adressed as sir but there is no official post-nominal letters.
