A new book by Stephanie Trigg explores the vulgar secrets behind
the British Monarchy's highest honour.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the highest honour in the
gift of the Queen. On Garter Day (June 18), members of this select
group will put on their elaborate long robes, hats, ribbons and
gold chains and take part in the annual procession at Windsor
Castle.
This new book by Stephanie Trigg, Professor of English Literature
at the University of Melbourne and Chief Investigator at the ARC
Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, explores the
myths and traditions of the Order, which was founded by Edward III
in 1348.
"The 'official' version of its origins says he wanted to reward
his best knights. But a popular myth persists: that the king
gallantly picked up the dropped garter of his mistress and declared
to the laughing courtiers that he would found a chivalric order in
honour of the occasion," Professor Trigg said.
The Order would become so great that all who were laughing would
want to join. The Order's motto is Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense:
'shamed be he who thinks evil of this.'
This popular story celebrates the pleasure of things going wrong,
and the monarchy's capacity to make symbolic meaning out of trivial
or embarrassing events. The Order has been the object of satire and
fun since its inception, while its rituals have at times fallen
into severe decay. The book charts the different associations of
courtly honour, and the shame, or disgrace of 'degradation' from
the Order.
'Most previous histories of the Order have been celebratory,
written by insiders or admirers,' Professor Trigg explained earlier
this week. 'This book is a cultural history, and draws on both
sympathetic and antagonistic views of the Garter in its almost 700
years of existence.'
The book will be launched in Sydney by Professor Paul Giles at the
Sydney Mechanics School of Arts on Friday, June 8. The event
has been organised by The Australian Heraldry Society.
It will have a Melbourne launch on Tuesday, June 12 in the
Baillieu Library at the University of Melbourne. Mr Brien Hallett,
Usher of the Black Rod, Australian Senate, will launch the
book.
Shame and Honor: A Vulgar History of the Order of the Garter is
published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, and the research
was supported by funding from the Australian Research
Council.
MEDIA CONTACT
Stephanie Trigg
Email: sjtrigg@unimelb.edu.au.
Phone: (03) 8344 5504
Mobile: 0405 782 133