Order of the Thistle

The Order of the Thistle is Scotland's order of chivalry.

The Order of the Thistle is an order of sixteen Scottish knights, and a potentially unlimited number of "extra knights" who are not necessarily Scottish. The current Order of the Thistle was created by James VII in 1687. He claimed to be reviving a previous chivalristic order of the same name, though such a claim is lacking in support.

The earliest information pointing to an Order of the Thistle predecessor is records of James V. According to various accounts, after he was admitted to the Order of the Golden Fleece, James V was ashamed of not having an equal honor to bestow upon foreign figures and created the order. The Order of the Thistle has a more fanciful origin story, involving Oengus mac Fergusa, who at a battle against King Aethelstan of East Anglia, saw the cross of St. Andrew in the sky, and created the Order of the Thistle after the battle. Though regardless, it is recorded that the current order was started with the letter patent reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, luster and magnificency" on the 29th May 1687.