Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/396

Rh ORDER OF THE GOLDEN SPURS.

This Order of the Golden Militia, but better known as the Order of the Golden Spurs, claims prior antiquity to all other knightly Orders. The presumption that it was founded by Constantine, and confirmed by Pope Sylvester, at whose hands the Emperor even received the insignia, rests upon the testimony of several not unimportant writers, though it seems more probable, as some other authors affirm, that its origin falls in the reign of Paul III. or his successor, Pius IV. (in 1559). Its existence previous to the reign of Paul III. is, at all events, not historically evidenced.

The Knights, who formerly bore in the patent the title of 'Lateran Court Palatines,' possessed, at one time, numerous rights and privileges, and had even precedence in rank to the Maltese and Teutonic Knights, and the Order therefore commanded then a very high position in public opinion.

In process of time, however, the various alterations effected in the statutes, added to the lavish distribution of the Order, greatly detracted from its value and respect, while the words in the nomination patent: "That the new Knights were to partake of all the advantages and privileges peculiar to the Order," became an empty form. The Order was confined to no rank or station, and was usually conferred by the Popes, on the anniversaries of their accession, during their procession from the Vatican to the Lateran, on their pages and other attendants of their household.

The right of nomination was even vested on certain prelates and Cardinals, while the Ducal house Sforza-Besarini professed to be in possession of a power granted by Pope Paul III.