Order of the Garter

The Order of the Garter, sent to Christian IV by James I in 1603.

Gold with enamel and diamonds. The collar is thought to be the oldest specimen of the Order in existence. It was formed as a brotherhood of arms by Edward III in 1348. It shows the christian knight St. Georges’ victory against the dragon. Immediately after his enthronement in 1603 James I had his brother in law, the Danish king Christian IV, knighted. After the death of Christian IV in 1648 the order was not returned, as is practice, but kept under the excuse of the civil unrest in England at the time, which resulted in the instalment of the english English republic under the lead of Cromwell.