The Order of the Thistle by Galloway, P.
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle was
instituted by King James VII (of Scotland)
and II (of England) in 1687
to recognize the loyalty of those who governed Scotland in his name. From those
early years and through eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when political
allegiance was often foremost in the selection of a knight, the Order of the
Thistle has matured into an honour that recognizes Scots men and women of
outstanding reputation and pre-eminent service, both in Scotland and on the wider stage.
This history of the Order is the result of years of careful
research, and disposes of many of the myths surrounding its origins. The author
traces the history, development and progress of Scotland’s
national order of knighthood and the changing face of political life in Scotland
from the seventeenth to the twenty-first centuries, and illuminates it by
reference to the many colourful and sometimes eccentric personalities that have
featured in its life and contributed to its reputation. This book is the first
full account of the history of this great Scottish Order, its insignia and its
members.
Spink, 2010. Quarto, pp. xx, 466. Casebound in cloth, gilt,
paper jacket.
45 beautiful colour plates. Foreword by Prince Philip.
