Order of the Thistle in the context of "Saint Andrew"

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⭐ Core Definition: Order of the Thistle

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland, who asserted that he was reviving an earlier order. The order consists of the sovereign and sixteen knights and ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British royal family and foreign monarchs). The sovereign alone grants membership of the order; they are not advised by the government, as occurs with most other orders.

The order's primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland. The motto is Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin for "No one provokes me with impunity"). The same motto appears on the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland and pound coins minted in 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 (since withdrawn), and is also the motto of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Scots Guards, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. The patron saint of the order is St Andrew.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Portrait of the Earl of Carlisle

Portrait of the Earl of Carlisle is a 1769 portrait painting by the English artist Joshua Reynolds. It depicts the British aristocrat Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle. Produced when the Earl was in his early twenties, it is a swagger portrait featured him dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Thistle. Carlisle had inherited the title as a boy in 1758, and later entered politics. He would go on to head the Carlisle Commission, an attempt to end the American War of Independence which was undermined by the entry of France into the conflict. Subsequently he was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He became a friend of Reynolds, the President of the Royal Academy.

The painting has been at Carlisle's family residence Castle Howard in Yorkshire for centuries. In 2016 it was accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by the British government. It was formally allocated to the Tate Britain, but would remain on display at Castle Howard.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Dame (title)

Dame is a traditionally British honorific title given to women who have been admitted to certain orders of chivalry. It is the female equivalent of Sir, the title used by knights. Baronetesses in their own right also use the title Dame.

A woman appointed to the grades of Dame Commander or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Order of the Bath, the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Royal Victorian Order, or the Order of the British Empire becomes a dame. A Central European order in which female members receive the rank of Dame is the Order of Saint George. Since there is no female equivalent to a Knight Bachelor, women are always appointed to an order of chivalry. Women who are appointed to the Order of the Garter or the Order of the Thistle are given the title of Lady rather than Dame.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Baronet

A baronet (/ˈbærənɪt/ or /ˈbærəˌnɛt/; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (/ˈbærənɪtɪs/, /ˈbærənɪtɛs/, or /ˌbærəˈnɛtɛs/; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th century; however, in its current usage it was created by James I of England in 1611 as a means of raising funds for the crown.

Baronets rank below barons and knights of the Garter and the Thistle, but above all other knights.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Coat of arms of Scotland

The coat of arms of Scotland, colloquially called the Lion Rampant, is the coat of arms historically used as arms of dominion by the monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland, and later used within the coat of arms of Great Britain and the present coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The arms consist of a red lion surrounded by a red double border decorated with fleurs-de-lis, all on a gold background. The blazon, or heraldic description, is: Or a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory-counter-flory of the second.

The coat of arms was adopted in the 12th century by William the Lion and has been used by successive Scottish and British monarchs. It currently forms part of the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, where it is quartered with the arms of England and Ireland. There are two versions of the United Kingdom's arms, one which gives England prominence and other which gives Scotland prominence; the latter includes other Scottish symbolism in the full achievement, such as the collar of the Order of the Thistle.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Lady

Lady is a term for a woman who behaves in a polite way. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female counterpart of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men.

"Lady" is also a formal title in the United Kingdom. "Lady" is used before the family name or peerage of a woman with a title of nobility or honorary title suo jure (in her own right), such as female members of the Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle, or the wife of a lord, a baronet, Scottish feudal baron, laird, or a knight, and also before the first name of the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth

James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth, KT, PC (1648 – 11 May 1716) was a Scottish politician.

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Order of the Thistle in the context of Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery

Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery KT PC FRS (28 July 1674 – 28 August 1731) was an English nobleman, statesman and patron of the sciences.

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