Chivalric Order of the Knights of Justice

The Order of the Faithful Knights of Justice
(The Faithful Knights of the Round Table)

History of the Order

History in brief: The Chivalric Order of Justice has its origin in Great Britain in the tenth century. Its institution is attributed to King Edward, (called "The Elder" 900 - 924) from the House of Wessex, who wanted to carry on with the tradition of King Arthur, calling together all his Faithful Knights around the "Round Table" in the Castle of Kenilworth (Warwickshire-Midlands), and in presence of all the barons and common people, they solemnly swore to be loyal to the King and to defend Truth and Justice all the days of their life.

In the eleventh century, the Saxon King Edward, "The Confessor" (1042 - 1066), being sanctified by the catholic church, confirmed the duties and privileges of the Order and ordered the Tournament of Jousting which takes place every year in the Castle of Chilham (Kent) and where all knights swore loyalty to the Sovereign and Rules of the Order.

King William the I., "The Conqueror" (1066 - 1087) came from the Normandy and re-organized the feudal system in England. William punished rebels by confiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans, and he rewarded the conquerors with the title of County Magistrates. William laid the foundation for the economic and political success in England.

Henry the I. (1100 - 1135), known as "Beauclerc" (fine scholar), entrusted the Knights of Justice the further duty of tax collectors of the chamber of commerce. The Charter of Henry 1st was an important document which provided the basis for Magna Carta. With Richard the I., "The Lionheart" (1189 - 1199), the second Plantagenet King of England, Angevin line, has become through the centuries as a glorious Crusader and Knight. Richard was called Lionheart at the beginning of the Third Crusade when Philip of France was compared with a Lamb and Richard with a Lion. He convinced his Knights of Justice in Winchester, around the "Round Table" of having belonged to King Arthur and having the magic sword "Excalibur". The generous Knights took part in the Third Crusade and then guaranteed the respect of "Magna Carta" (1215) by King John, "The Lackland" (1199 - 1216).

King Edward the III. of England (reigned 1327-1377) loved chivalry. He loved competing in tournaments, hearing the legends of King Arthur, and staging dramatic scenes with the burgers of captured cities. In 1344, at the climax of a grand and festive week-long celebration, he announced his intention to re-create the Faithful Knights of the Round Table as a society of the 300 most chivalrous knights in England. He even began construction of a great round hall in Windsor Castle to house the table.

The Faithful Knights of the Round Table had as their patron saint St George because he was the only one of all the saints who was a horseman. In 1348, George was adopted by Edward the III. as principal patron of his new order of chivalry. St. George became patron of knighthood and arms, and finally the principal patron of England. He is also the Patron Saint of The Knights of Justice.

After the accession to the throne of Henry the VIII. (1509 - 1547) from the House of Tudor and known as the Defender of the Faith, and the "Anglican schism"; the Order strictly Christian was suppressed by Henry the 8th in ~ 1544, like the most of the Christian Orders in England.

The modern re-foundation of the Order, a charitable institution, dates from in the 19th century. The former Grand Master H.E. Dr. Sir Sydney Lawrence († 1988, London), Knight Grand Cross of Justice, developed the Order of the Knights of Justice considerably after World War II and brought the Order in a condition to be suitable for the Third Millennium. The current Grand Master of the Order is H.E. Prof. Dr. Paul A. Zammit-Lewis, former Maltese Consul General, member of O.S.J. Malta and Knight Grand Cross of Justice. A Royal Protectorate and Recognition has been given by the Royal House of Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait.

The Chivalric Order of the Faithful Knights of Justice was originated as a Christian Militia placed under the protection of King Edward and Saint George and Saint Michael the Archangel, to protect the pilgrims and supported the crusade, and the principal duty of which, was the diffusion of Christian values, help the needy, the oppressed and through the Knights and Dames, helps the poor and the sick. Today the Order doesn't look after military traditions any more and the Order operates to the codes of peace and moral ethics consistent with their own principles and beliefs. The aim of the Order is to promote and maintain the principles of Chivalry, and to support the Order's ethics for living in world peace and human harmony.

With the ceremonies in the heraldic and chivalric style every member must conduct his/her Moral and Civil behaviour in the same way as the Order's origin, being that of the chivalric ethics, the well-known behaviour of Bonizone da Sutri in 1090 in his code of the Christian Knight "Liber de Vita Christiana" in which the Chivalric Ideals harmonise themselves with the ascetic, favouring every spiritual and human initiative.

The Honours System in British history is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, help suffering people, or contribution to humanitarian work. As the Head of the Order, the sovereign remains the "fount of honour", but the system for identifying and recognising candidates to honour has changed considerably over time. Various Orders of Knighthood (like the Knights of Justice) have been created as well as awards for humanitarian service, bravery, merit, and achievement which take the form of decorations, medals or ranks.
Orders were created for particular reasons at particular times. In some cases these reasons have ceased to have any validity and Orders have fallen into abeyance, primarily due to the decline of the British Empire during the twentieth century. Reforms of the system have sometimes made other changes. These changes were made because it was believed they perpetuated class differences of distinguished people.

The Motto: LEX * JUSTITIA * PAX
(LAW - JUSTICE - PEACE)