The Order of Saint Michael () is a French dynastic order of chivalry, founded by King Louis XI on 1 August 1469, in response to the Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the dukes of Orléans, Berry, and Brittany.

Although officially abolished by the government authorities of the July Revolution in 1830 following the French Revolution, its activities carried on. It is still recognised by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry.

History

thumb|left|upright=1.2|King Louis XI sitting on his throne. In the room, a painting of St. Michael killing a serpent. Title page of the Order's statutes, drawn by [[Jean Fouquet in the 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale, fr. 19819]]

thumb|upright=1.3|Plaque marking the former site of the Chapel of Saint-Michel du Palais, home of the Order from 1496 to 1555

The first knights were among the most powerful nobles in France, close relatives of the king and a few from other royal houses in Europe. Originally, the number of members (called companions) was limited to thirty-five. It was suspended from the elaborate Collar of the Order of Saint Michael made of scallop shells (the badge of pilgrims, especially those to Santiago de Compostela) linked with double knots. The statutes state that the badge could be hung on a simple chain, and later it was suspended from a black ribbon.

When the Order of St Michael was founded, the famous illuminator Jean Fouquet was commissioned to paint the title miniature of the Statutes, showing the king presiding over the knights (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, fr. 19819). The original plan was for the knights to meet yearly on 29 September at Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. Such an isolated location was impractical causing Charles VIII to transfer this meeting place to the chapel of Saint-Michel-du-Palais,

The French government considers the Order to be the origin of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres:

<blockquote>Saint-Michel Order (1460–1830) can be considered as the precursor of the Order of the Arts and Letters. Originally destined to the aristocracy, from 17th to 18th centuries it became an order of civil merit, which distinguished many artists, architects, collectors, and people of letters</blockquote>

Notable recipients

No formal list of members of the order exists.

  • Charles, Duke of Guyenne
  • John II, Duke of Bourbon
  • Louis of Luxembourg, Constable of France
  • André de Laval, Marshal of France
  • Jean V de Bueil, Count of Sancerre
  • Louis de Beaumont, lord of La Forêt and Le Plessis
  • Jean d'Estouteville, lord of Torcy
  • Louis de Laval, lord of Châtillon
  • , Count of Roussillon, Admiral of France
  • Antoine de Chabannes, Count of Dammartin, Grand Master of the Hotel of France
  • Jean d'Armagnac, Count of Comminges, Marshal of France
  • , lord of Craon
  • Gilbert de Chabannes, lord of Curton, Seneschal of Guyenne
  • , Seneschal of Poitou
  • Tanneguy du Châtel, Governor of Roussillon and Cerdagne

Later appointees

  • Samson de Saint-Germain, Baron of Asnebec, Baron of Ranes, Lord of Rouvrou, la Fresnaye and Saint-Georges, in 1469 by Louis XI
  • Cesare Borgia, in 1499 by Louis XII
  • Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua in 1507 by Louis XII
  • Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, in 1532 by Francis I
  • James V of Scotland, in 1534 by Francis I
  • Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus in 1545 by Francis I
  • James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault in 1548 by Henry II
  • George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly in 1548 by Henry II
  • Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll in 1548 by Henry II
  • Paul de Thermes in 1549 (for the capture of Haddington and Broughty Castle)
  • André de Montalembert in 1549 (for the capture of Inchkeith)
  • Edward VI of England, 1551 by Henry II
  • Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley under the name King Henry of Scotland, 1565 by Charles IX
  • Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, 1566 by Charles IX
  • Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, 1566 by Charles IX
  • François Caron, in 1672 by Louis XIV
  • Constance Phaulkon, in 1687 by Louis XIV

<gallery heights="200px" mode="packed" class="center">

File:Portrait of King Charles VIII of France (1470–1498), by anonymous artist, 16th century (cropped) 2.jpg|Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, wearing the collar of the Order of Saint Michael

File:Ludwig XII. von Frankreich.jpg|Louis XII wearing the collar of the Order

File:Statuts de l'ordre de Saint-Michel - Meermanno Museum 10C8 f8r (Assemblée des chevaliers).jpg|King Francis I presiding the Order's knights. Painting from a copy of the statutes from about 1530.

File:Order of Saint Michael (heraldry).svg|Collar of the Order as used on the Royal Arms of France

</gallery>

Notes