Order of the Bath

Military Badge of the Order of the Bath

A drawing of a military star, as awarded to Knights or Dames Grand Cross

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry. It was founded by George I, on 18 May 1725. The name comes from an old ceremony, first mentioned in 1128. In the ceremony, men participated in a vigil of fasting, prayer, and taking a bath. They did this on the day before they were made a knight. The ceremony was abolished in 1815.

The Order is made up of the Sovereign (the British Sovereign), the Great Master (The Prince of Wales since 2024), and three classes of members: (Highest to lowest)

• Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCB)
• Knight or Dame Commander (KCB or DCB)
• Companion (CB)

Because the Order was originally founded as a military order of chivalry, its star (referred to in this use as a "pip") is worn as army officers' rank insignia. Members of the order now belong to either the Civil or the Military Division. The Order's motto is Tria juncta in uno (Latin for "Three joined in one"). This is a reference to either the union of England, Scotland and Ireland, or to the Holy Trinity. A symbol of the Order that is seen over and over has three crowns in it. Another motto, Ich dien (German for "I serve") is used occasionally, but only by members of the military division of the Order.

The Order is the third oldest of the British Orders of Chivalry, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and before The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick. The last of those Orders–which relates to Ireland, no longer a part of the United Kingdom–still exists, but is no longer active; no appointments have been made to it since 1934.

Order Of The Bath Media

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  Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022)

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  Coat of arms of the British monarch as sovereign of the Order of the Bath.

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  Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland, KB, with sash, c. 1630

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  Sir Robert Walpole, who as Prime Minister used the Order for political patronage

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  Admiral Lord Rodney (appointed a Knight Companion in 1780) wearing the riband and star of the Order.

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  Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Callaghan wearing the insignia of a military Companion of the Order.

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  Sir Alexander Milne (1808–1896) was concurrently KCB (civil division) and GCB (military division); he is pictured wearing both sets of insignia.

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  Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns in his service dress uniform, wearing the star, riband, and badge of a military Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

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  Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, Great Master 1843–1861. During the 19th century, Knights Grand Cross wore their mantles over imitations of 17th-century dress. They now wear them over contemporary attire.

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  Sash and star of Grand Cross, civil division.