IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN TIBERIAN DOBRYNIAN HOUSE OF ROME BYZANTIUM AND RUSSIA

The Sovereign Military Order

of the Byzantine Eagle

                               A.D. 1190

   The foundation of the sovereign order of the Byzantine Eagle reaches back into antiquity with the establishment of the Golden Militia by Emperor Constantine.  Perhaps, even before that, the Praetorian Guards and avocati that formed the ranks of the imperial bodyguard comprised an honored body that eventually merged into the Equestrian Order subsequently named that of the Byzantine Eagle.  Constantine established the Constantinian Order of Golden Knights to carry the labrum, the Chi Rho standard, but also instituted an elite bodyguard of Christian knights and nobles of equestrian rank, who not only performed military service but also engaged in administration of medical services, Christian charity and the care of the sick and disabled.  Several of these knights and nobles initiated a series of hospitals and military centers in the Holy Land and were charged with the defense of pilgrims and maintenance of the holy shrines and churches.

   The Order was loosely maintained by the descendents of the initial Roman knights and nobles but fell into abeyance following the Muslim invasion of the Holy Land, when the order suffered considerable losses in manpower and materials.  Ultimately, it was maintained in the Italian/Beneventan tradition, especially by those Orthodox Christian scholars and nobles who flourished in the Byzantine possessions in southern Italy during the Dark Ages of Western Europe.  These scholars and physicians maintained the principles of the order and the Sacred Bull of Constantine which initiated its founding and reconstituted the order along Western European lines following the First Crusade.

   At this time, the Order received its official name, the Sovereign Military Order of the Byzantine Eagle, as it sought to assist the Byzantine Emperor in the reclamation of Byzantine lands from the Muslim Arabs and Turks.  The order formed a body of Imperial Cavalry and was divided by ranks into Knights (Cavalrymen), Officers, Tribunes (company grade officers) and Knights Grand Cross (field grade officers).  The position of Grand Master was a hereditary position, held under the auspices of the Byzantine Crown and the persona of the Grand Master existed in the body of the Emperor himself, or a member of the Imperial Household.

            Knights Grand Cross in the Order were Orthodox citizens of Byzantium but the rank and file members of the Order came from all over Europe and were recruited from among the Rus, Pole, Wallach, Magyar and German people.  The standards of the Order flew valiantly in the midst of the Byzantine host at Manzikert, defended the walls of Thessaloniki and Adrianople and ultimately, fought to the last defending Emperor Alexius V during the Crusader sack of Constantinople in 1204.

            The Order was reconstituted by the exiled Byzantine Imperial House in Nicaea and eventually became a House Order of the Angelan-Paleologan Dynasty.  The Order retained its military organization but became a ceremonial award in recognition of esteemed and noble service to the Imperial House as when it was awarded to the acclaimed architect, Theodore Metochites and the Imperial Dragoman of the Last Emperor, Romanus Xenos Zagonas.

With the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottomans, the Order once again fell into abeyance, the last constituents having been massacred or sold into slavery.  The precepts and insignia of the order, however, remained an important part of the chivalric tradition and appeared in various forms throughout the Renaissance period. 

            The Order now enters the modern period with the restoration of its original Byzantine title and a rapprochement of its ancient traditions with the needs of our modern world. 

Nature and Sovereignty of the Military Order

            The Order is a chivalrous body, Christian in precepts but ecumenical, belonging in full title to the dynastic, historical and heraldic hereditary patrimony of the August Imperial House and Granducal Tiberian-Dobrynian-Angelan House as a reconstituted arm under the Byzantine Crown.  The Order is sovereign and military in organization, beholden to no state or political purpose, merely seeking to further the humanitarian and Christian charitable aims and causes that were paramount in the Byzantine period.

The Aims of the Order:

  1. Perpetuation of the original traditions and precepts of the Byzantine order as well as the traditions of the humanistic and scientific, religious and existential achievements of the Byzantine tradition.
  2. Propagation of the principles of universal brotherhood, friendship and amity between men of all races, faiths and nationalities.
  3. The defense and maintenance of the chivalrous ideals of Justice, Honor, Care of the Sick and Protection of the weak and infirm-principally the abandoned, aged and orphaned.
  4. Furtherance of philanthropic and benevolent values.  Members in the order are expected to make yearly oblations to charity, especially to those religious institutions supporting the sick, orphans and the aged.

Membership

            Membership in the order is bestowed by the grace of the Grand Master, in recognition of worthy individuals with a long record of varied humanitarian, scientific and artistic efforts or motu propriu for various honoris causa.  In the Byzantine Order, successive ranks are commonly achieved through promotion although the conferment of any rank can be achieved by recommendation of the Prince in instances he deems appropriate (ie extreme meritorious endeavors or achievements).  Categories of the Order Exist as follows:

1.      Knight Grand Cross-Decorated with Collar – reserved in most instances for members of the Imperial Household and the Grand Master.  At most, 75 other individuals outside the Imperial Household, can hold this rank in the Order, mainly: Heads of State, Cardinals of the Catholic Church and Primates of the Orthodox Church, esteemed individuals who, through their valiant service, warrant exceptional recognition by the House.  Knights Grand Cross carry with them the equivalent to the rank of General officer/privy councilor and allow the conferment of Senatorial rank with its award and the honorary title of Cousin of the Grand Master/Excellency.  Recipients are also entitled to the addition of the Byzantine helmet (a visored helmet with perched Byzantine Eagle stanchion) as the helmet piece in their respective coats of arms. Postnomial: GCCBE

2.      Knight Grand Cross – Reserved for those individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to mankind through humanitarian, charitable and religious/artistic efforts.  There is no restriction on the number of individuals enrolled in the Order as Knights Grand Cross.  For individuals enlisted in the Order as Knights/or at some lower rank than Grand Cross, a Knight Grand Cross is the highest rank in the Order achievable in most instances.  Knights in this rank are entitled to the title of Excellency. Postnomial: KGCBE 

3.   Commander’s Cross – Holders of the Order in this rank are equivalent to senior field officers/tribune.  The traditional rank of appointment for individuals who have achieved a level of recognition in the world of letters, arts and sciences or for those who have earned the favor of the Imperial House. Postnomial: CCBE

4.   Officer’s Cross – this is the junior most of the officer’s ranks in the Order.  Reserved for those individuals who have shown particular merit and enthusiasm for the aims of the order and have matured from their initial appointment at the level of Knight’s Cross. Postnomial: OCBE

5.   Knight’s Cross – the initial level in the Order.  For those individuals who have committed themselves to the aims and goals of the Imperial House and the Order, who have found esteem in the eyes of the Imperial House or for those members of other houses/chivalric organizations too young to receive higher appointment in the Order.   Appointment at this level allows for advancement through the successive ranks to Class II (Knight Grand Cross). Postnomial: KCBE

Mantle:  Cowled mantle of dark blue lined in imperial yellow.  The Bicepahlous Byzantine Eagle is worn as an embroidered badge just below the heart on the left side of the mantle. 

 

 

 

 

Decorations:

1.      Knight’s Cross – Bicepahalous imperial Eagle cross hung from a blue and gold ribbon worn over the chest chevalier fashion.

2.   Officer’s Cross – Bicephalous Imperial Eagle cross hung from a blue and gold ribbon with additional crown surmount beneath the eagles.  Worn over the chest chevalier fashion.

3.   Commander’s Cross – Badge of bicephalous imperial eagles superimposed over a white cross in the center of an eight pointed starburst.  Motto encircles the center emblem.

4.   Knight Grand Cross- Bicepahlous Imperial Eagle Cross hung from a blue and gold ribbon around the neck with Commander’s Cross Badge.

5.   Knight Grand Cross With Collar – Bicepalous Imperial Egale Cross superimposed on Bicephalous Imperial Black Eagles hung from a blue and gold ribbon around the neck with Commander’s Cross Badge.

Feast Day of the Order: May 24

Patron of the Order: Michael the Archangel

Motto: Greek - Nika h QanatoV (Victory or Death)   

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