View source for Order of the Eagle of Georgia

{{Infobox military award
|name=Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ
|image=[[File:Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia.gif|250px]]
|caption=Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia
|presenter=[[File:Flag of Georgia.svg|18px]] [[Bagrationi dynasty]]
|type= [[Dynastic Order]] 
|eligibility= 
|awarded_for= Support of Georgia and the cause of the monarchy.
|status= Currently constituted
|description=
|clasps=
|established= Claimed to be between 1184 and 1213; <br/>re-established in Italy in 1939
|higher= None
|same=
|lower= [[Order of Saint Queen Tamar]]
|image2=[[File:Knight - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.png|100 px]]
|caption2=Ribbon of the Order
}}

The '''Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ''' ({{lang-ka|საქართველოს არწივისა და უფლისა ჩვენისა იესო ქრისტეს უკერველი კვართის}})<ref>{{cite web |title=Order of the Eagle of Georgia |url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/geo/435 |publisher=Royal Family of Georgia |access-date=7 October 2018 |language=ka}}</ref> commonly known as the '''Order of the Eagle of Georgia''' (OEG), is the highest [[order of chivalry]] awarded by Crown Prince [[David Bagration of Mukhrani]], the order's Grand Master and a [[Pretender|claimant]] to the [[Bagrationi dynasty|throne of Georgia]].<ref name=icoc>{{cite web|url=http://www.icocregister.org/2004otherinstitutions.htm|work=International Commission on Orders of Chivalry – 2006 Register|title=Provisional list of orders: New chivalric institutions founded by the head of a formerly reigning dynasty|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=r1>{{harvnb|Sainty|Heydal-Mankoo|2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blasoneshispanos.com/OrdenesCaballeria/04-OrdDinasticas/10-AguilaTunicaInconsultil/AguilaTunicaInconsultil.htm |title=Orden Del Aguila De Georgia Y La Tunica Sin Costuras De Nuestro Señor Jesucristo |website=Blasoneshispanos.com|access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref> Prince David became the head of the [[House of Mukhrani]], head of [[Bagrationi dynasty|Royal House of Bagrationi]], and Grand Master of the order when his father, Prince [[Jorge Bagration of Mukhrani|Giorgi (Jorge) Bagrationi]], died.<ref name="warner">{{cite web|author=Warner, Gerald|date=8 August 2008|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/4956651/Demoralised_Georgia_may_renew_itsel_by_restoring_its_monarchy|title=Demoralized Georgia may renew itself by restoring its monarchy|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=3 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603203652/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geraldwarner/4956651/Demoralised_Georgia_may_renew_itself_by_restoring_its_monarchy/|archive-date=3 June 2014}}</ref>

==History of the Order==
The Order claims to have been founded by Queen [[Tamar of Georgia]], and its modern history dates from when it was restored in [[Italy]] by Prince [[Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani]] in 1939 as the highest of the House Orders of the [[Bagrationi dynasty]].<ref name=r1/>

The name of the Order refers to the [[Seamless robe of Jesus|Sacred Tunic]] that [[Jesus Christ]] wore at his death. According to legend, the relic was raffled off by Roman soldiers and it was then taken to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], preserved, and buried in the [[Svetitskhoveli Cathedral]], alongside the insignias of former Kings of Georgia.<ref name=serrano>{{harvnb|Serrano|2014}}</ref>

In 1942, Prince Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani<ref name="rey_y_cabieses">{{cite book|title=Wittelsbach y Borbón: relaciones y enlaces entre las Casas Reales de Baviera y España, siglos XIX al XXI|author=Rey y Cabieses, Amadeo-Martín|publisher=Escuela "Marqués de Avilés"|year=2005}}</ref> was elected President of the Union of Traditionalist Georgians, who were dedicated to restoring a free Georgia under a constitutional monarchy.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Upon his death in 1977, Prince Irakli was succeeded in his claims by his first-born son, Prince [[Jorge Bagration of Mukhrani|Jorge de Bagration]], who only awarded the Order within his family until 2001, when he decided to give concessions for excellence, merit and/or service to the Royal House and people of Georgia.<ref name=montgomery>{{harvnb|Montgomery|1980}}</ref> After 2003, Prince Jorge gave the Order a new constitution, establishing its current terms and conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspress.ge/kultura/25020-davith-maghradzes-da-nikusha-shengelaias-davith-bagrationi-thavisuflebisthvis-brdzolashi-gatseuli-ghvatslisthvis-ordens-gadascems.html|title=Newspress - დავით მაღრაძეს და ნიკუშა შენგელაიას დავით ბაგრატიონი თავისუფლებისთვის ბრძოლაში გაწეული ღვაწლისთვის ორდენს გადასცემს |website=Newspress.ge|access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>

During the Grand Mastership of Prince Jorge, significant figures from nobility and royalty entered the Order.<ref name=r94>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle/order-distinguished-members|title=The Royal House of Georgia Distinguished Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701024424/http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle/order-distinguished-members |archive-date=2015-07-01 |publisher=Royalhouseofgeorgia.ge |access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>

In 1991, it was reported that the Georgian Parliament acknowledged Prince Jorge Bagration of Mukhrani as the head of the Royal house of Bagrationi, but others dispute his claims.<ref name="times_london">{{cite news |title=Prince George Bagration of Mukhrani, Claimant to the throne of Georgia who became well known in Spain as a fearless motor racing and rally driver. |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3291285.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523221949/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3291285.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 May 2010 |work= [[The Times]] |date=2 February 2008 |accessdate=4 February 2008 | location=London}}</ref> In 1995, Prince Jorge, traveled to Georgia with and met with Georgian President [[Eduard Shevardnadze]], who declared to Prince Jorge: "My Lord, you are in your homeland which needs the Royal Family to maintain its unity."<ref name="rey_y_cabieses" />

Due to the Mukhrani's long exile in Spain, many of the Order's members are Spanish.<ref name="elenco" /> The order is highlighted in a list of notable Orders on the Blasones Hispanos, Ordenes Dinasticas website.<ref name=blason>{{harvnb|Blasones hispanos|2015}}</ref>

Prince Jorge's son, Prince David, repatriated to Georgia in 2008, one year after the Patriarch of Georgia, [[Ilia II of Georgia|Ilia II]], who is a holder of the Grand Collar of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia, had called for the restoration of the Georgian monarchy.<ref name="serrano" /> David was granted citizenship, and a year later, married Princess Anna, daughter of the genealogically junior [[Gruzinsky]] branch who were rivals to the defunct Georgian throne.<ref name="montgomery" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Photo - Politics - The Government inherits gifts received by Ivanishvili while in office|url=http://www.interpressnews.ge/en/photo.html?view=image&image=21244|website=Interpressnews.ge|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107011319/http://www.interpressnews.ge/en/photo.html?view=image&image=21244|archive-date=7 November 2016|access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ceremonia de la Casa Real de Georgia en el Ateneo. Las Provincias|url=http://www.lasprovincias.es/v/20130714/valencia/ceremonia-casa-real-georgia-20130714.html|date=14 July 2013|website=Lasprovincias.es|access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref><ref>"Georgia Times Wedding of the two royal dynasties members"; ''Georgian Journal''; retrieved 10 February 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/news/Offical-Events/Royal-Wedding |title=Prince David, wearing the Grand Cross of the OEG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101033/http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/news/Offical-Events/Royal-Wedding |archive-date=2015-04-02 |publisher= Royal House of Georgia |access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref> Princess Anna was, herself, a Dame of the Order.<ref name="elenco" /> The marriage sparked widespread interest in the revival of a constitutional monarchy.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kalatozishvili, Georgy|date=11 November 2013|url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/47427.html |title=Will Georgia become a monarchy? |publisher=VestnikKavkaza.net |access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref> The royal couple divorced in 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/society/48794.html|title=Descendant of Georgian kings announces his divorce|date=24 December 2011 |publisher=Vestnik Kavkaza|access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgianjournal.ge/society/25730-georgian-royal-family-divorce.html|title=Georgian Royal Family Divorce|website=Georgianjournal.ge|access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> and their son Prince Giorgi, has been a Knight Grand Collar of the Order from birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/news/Offical-Events/Second-birthday-of-HRH-Giorgi-Bagration-Bagrationi |title=Second birthday of HRH Giorgi Bagration Bagrationi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202173147/http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/news/Offical-Events/Second-birthday-of-HRH-Giorgi-Bagration-Bagrationi |archive-date=2014-02-02 |publisher=Royal House of Georgia |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>

In 2017, the [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Duke]] and [[Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester|Duchess of Gloucester]] "received the Grand Collar of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia on behalf of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in honor of her 90th birthday."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular?text=&mrf=10&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=8%2F03%2F2017&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=8%2F03%2F2017&=Search&id= |title=Court Circular |publisher=royal.uk |date=8 March 2017 |access-date=27 March 2017}}</ref>

The Order is recognized as a Dynastic (Non-Regnant) Order of Chivalry. In ''Burke's Peerage'', it is listed as an Order "founded by royal claimants in exile".{{When|date=June 2025}} The International Commission on Orders of Chivalry describes it as a "new chivalric institution founded by the head of a formerly reigning dynasty". The Augustan Society notes it as a non-ruling dynastic honor.<ref name=r4>{{cite web|publisher=Augustan Society|url=http://www.augustansociety.org/cpage.php?pt=107 |title=Recognized Orders of Chivalry: Other Non-Ruling Dynastic Honors and Orders of Merit: Georgia: House of Bagrationi Order of the Eagle of Georgia and Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ |date=15 May 2014}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=June 2025}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025}}

==Grand Masters of the Order (since 1939)==
[[File:OEG Sash Cross.png|thumb|right|Sash badge of the Order]]
* [[Irakli Bagration of Mukhrani]] (1939–1977) 
* [[Jorge Bagration of Mukhrani]] (1977–2008)
* [[David Bagration of Mukhrani]] (2008–present)

==Grades of the Order==
The Order of the Eagle of Georgia is composed of the following grades:<ref name="oeg_grades">{{cite web|url=https://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/order-eagle-grades-and-decorations/|access-date=19 March 2024|title=Order Eagle Grades and Decorations}}</ref>
* [[File:Order of the Eagle of Georgia - Collar.png|60px]] Knight Grand Collar (KGCEG/DGCEG)
* [[File:Grand Cross - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.png|60px]] Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCEG)
* [[File:Grand Officer - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.png|60px]] Knight Grand Officer (KGEG/DGEG)
* [[File:Knight Commander, Order of the Eagle of Georgia.png|60px]] Knight/Dame Commander (KCEG/DCEG)
* [[File:Stuha-důstojník.png|60px]] Knight/Dame (KEG/DEG)

{{Gallery
| title        = Order Insignia Charts
| width = 640| align = center
| File:Insignia Wear Chart (Men) - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.svg
 | Order of wear of insignia for men at each grade.
 | alt1= Order of wear of insignia for men at each grade.
| File:Insignia Wear Chart (Women) - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.svg
 | Order of wear of insignia for women at each grade.
 | alt2= Order of wear of insignia for women at each grade.
| File:Heraldic Additaments Chart - Order of the Eagle of Georgia.svg
 | Heraldic displays of order insignia for each grade.
 | alt3= Heraldic displays of order insignia for each grade.
}}

==Recipients==
Notable recipients of the order (Knight/Dame Grand Collar) since 1939 have partially included: <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/eng/449/order-distinguished-members | title=Order Distinguished Members }}</ref>
* [[Bartholomew I of Constantinople|Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/eng/434/news/113/THE-PATRIARCH-OF-CONSTANTINOPLE-DECORATED-BY-THE-HEAD-OF-THE-ROYAL-HOUSE-OF-GEORGIA | title=NEWS }}</ref>
* [[Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/eng/434/news/116/ROYAL-HOUSE-OF-PORTUGAL-EXCHANGES-HONOURS-WITH-ROYAL-HOUSE-OF-GEORGIA | title=NEWS }}</ref>
* [[Queen Elizabeth II |Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular?text=georgia&mrf=10&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=8%2F03%2F2016&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=8%2F03%2F2017&id= | title=Court Circular | website=The Royal Family }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/eng/434/news/114/HER-MAJESTY-QUEEN-ELIZABETH-II-PRESENTED-WITH-THE-GRAND-COLLAR-OF-THE-ORDER-OF-THE-EAGLE-OF-GEORGIA | title=NEWS }}</ref>
* [[Yukio Hatoyama|Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.royalhouseofgeorgia.ge/p/eng/434/news/318/CROWN-PRINCE-DAVIT-OF-GEORGIA-KNIGHTS-FORMER-JAPANESE-PRIME-MINISTER-MR--YUKIO-HATOYAMA | title=NEWS }}</ref>
* [[Necla Sultan|Necla Sultan, Princess of Egypt and Imperial Princess of Ottoman Empire]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=elenco de caballeros y damas de la orden del águila de georgia y la |url=https://studylib.es/doc/5791164/elenco-de-caballeros-y-damas-de-la-orden-del-águila-de-ge... |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=studylib.es |language=es}}</ref>
* [[Nilufer Hanımsultan|Princess Nilüfer Hanimsultan]]<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Georgia (country)}}
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of Georgia]]
*[[Order of Queen Tamara (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=elenco>{{harvnb|Elenco|2015}}</ref>
}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book
| last          = Montgomery-Massingberd
| first         = Hugh
| year          = 1980
| title         = Burke's Royal Families of the World
| volume        = II Africa & the Middle East
| publisher = Burke's Peerage
| isbn          = 0-85011-029-7
| ref           = {{harvid|Montgomery|1980}}
}}

*{{cite book
| last1         = Martínez Larrañaga
| last2         = Escudero y Díaz Madroñero
| last3         = de Montells y Galán
| first1        = Fernando
| first2        = Alfredo
| first3        = José María
| year          = 2015
| title         = Armorial de la Orden del Águila de Georgia y la Túnica Inconsútil de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo
| isbn          = 978-84-943890-4-7
}}

* {{cite web
| url           = http://www.blasoneshispanos.com/OrdenesCaballeria/04-OrdDinasticas/10-AguilaTunicaInconsultil/AguilaTunicaInconsultil.htm
| title         = ORDEN DEL AGUILA DE GEORGIA Y LA TUNICA SIN COSTURAS DE NUESTRO SEÑOR JESUCRISTO
| access-date    = February 14, 2015
| ref           = {{harvid|Blasones hispanos|2015}}
}}

* {{cite web
| url           = http://www.blasoneshispanos.com/OrdenesCaballeria/04-OrdDinasticas/10-AguilaTunicaInconsultil/Elenco%20de%20Caballeros%20y%20Damas.pdf
| title         = Elenco de Caballeros y Damas De La Orden Del Aguila De Georgia y la tunica Sin Costuras De Nuestro Senor Jesuscristo
| access-date    = February 14, 2015
| ref           = {{harvid|Elenco|2015}}
}}

* {{cite journal
| last          = Serrano
| first         = S.
| year          = 2014
| title         = The Georgian Church: Embodiment of National Unity or Opposition Force?
| journal       = Russian Politics and Law
| volume        = 52
| issue         = 4
| pages         = 74–92
| doi = 10.2753/RUP1061-1940520404
| s2cid = 142979772
}}
 
* {{cite book
| chapter       = Georgia
| pages         = 1847–1849
| title         = Burkes Peerage & Gentry: World Orders of Knighthood and Merit
| editor1-first = Guy Stair
| editor1-last  = Sainty
| editor2-first = Rafal
| editor2-last  = Heydal-Mankoo
| year          = 2006
}}

{{Commons category|Order of the Eagle of Georgia}}

[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Dynastic orders]]