Noble Dynasty

BECOMING A KNIGHT:

There were only a few ways in which a person could become a knight. The first way was the normal course of action for the son of a noble:

When a boy was eight years old, he was sent to the neighboring castle where he was trained as a page. The boy was usually the son of a knight or of a member of the aristocracy. He spent most of his time strengthening his body, wrestling and riding horses. He also learned how to fight with a spear and a sword. He practiced against a wooden dummie called a quintain.

It was essentially a heavy sack or dummie in the form of a human. It was hung on a wooden pole along with a shield. The young page had to hit the shield in its center. When hit, the whole structure would spin around and around. The page had to maneuver away quickly without getting hit. The young man was also taught more civilized topics. He would be taught to read and write by a schoolmaster. He could also be taught some Latin and French. The lady of the castle taught the page to sing and dance and how to behave in the king’s court.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, a boy became a squire in service to a knight. His duties included dressing the knight in the morning, serving all of the knight’s meals, caring for the knight’s horse, and cleaning the knight’s armor and weapons. He followed the knight to tournaments and assisted his lord on the battlefield. A squire also prepared himself by learning how to handle a sword and lance while wearing forty pounds of armor and riding a horse.

When he was about twenty, a squire could become a knight after proving himself worthy. A lord would agree to knight him in a dubbing ceremony. The night before the ceremony, the squire would dress in a white tunic and red robes. He would then fast and pray all night for the purification of his soul. The chaplain would bless the future knight's sword and then lay it on the chapel or church's altar. Before dawn, he took a bath to show that he was pure, and he dressed in his best clothes. When dawn came, the priest would hear the young man's confession, a Catholic contrition rite. The squire would then eat breakfast. Soon the dubbing ceremony began.

The outdoor ceremony took place in front of family, friends, and nobility. The squire knelt in front of the lord, who tapped the squire lightly on each shoulder with his sword and proclaimed him a knight. This was symbolic of what occurred in earlier times. In the earlier middle ages, the person doing the dubbing would actually hit the squire forcefully, knocking him over. After the dubbing, a great feast followed with music and dancing. young man could also become a knight for valor in combat after a battle or sometimes before a battle to help him gain courage.

CHIVALRY:

Knights believed in the code of chivalry. They promised to defend the weak, be courteous to all women, be loyal to their king, and serve God at all times. Knights were expected to be humble before others, especially their superiors. They were also expected to not "talk too much". In other words, they shouldn't boast. The code of chivalry demanded that a knight give mercy to a vanquished enemy.

KNIGHTS CODE OF CHIVALRY 

A knight was expected to have not only the strength and skills to face combat in the violent Middle Ages but was also expected to temper this aggressive side of a knight with a chivalrous side to his nature. There was not an authentic Knights Code of Chivalry as such - it was a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.

Knights Code of Chivalry dating back to the Dark Ages

The Knights Code of Chivalry was part of the culture of the Middle Ages and was understood by all. A Code of Chivalry was documented in 'The Song of Roland' in the Middle Ages Knights period of William the Conqueror who ruled England from 1066. The 'Song of Roland' describes the 8th century Knights of the Dark Ages and the battles fought by the Emperor Charlemagne. The code has since been described as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. The Song of Roland was the most famous 'chanson de geste' and was composed between 1098-1100, describing the betrayal of Count Roland at the hand of Ganelon, and his resulting death in the Pyranee Mountains at the hands of the Saracens. Roland was a loyal defender of his liege Lord Charlemagne and his code of conduct a description of the meaning of chivalry.

The Knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood The Knights Code of Chivalry described in the Song of Roland and an excellent representation of the Knights Codes of Chivalry are as follows:

• To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valor and faith
• To protect the weak and defenseless
• To give succor to widows and orphans
• To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
• To live by honor and for glory
• To despise pecuniary reward
• To fight for the welfare of all
• To obey those placed in authority
• To guard the honour of fellow knights
• To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
• To keep faith  At all times to speak the truth
• To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
• To respect the honor of women
• Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
• Never to turn the back upon a foe

From the Middle Ages onwards, the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) was divided into about 300 entities each with practically sovereign rights, which were represented in the imperial parliament (Reichstag), and some 1500 minor lordships that had no other sovereign than the emperor.

The territories of the Imperial Knights (Reichsritterschaft) were immediately depending from the emperor (as kind of a protector). The Imperial Knights were divided into several chapters (Kreise): Swabia, Franconia, Rhenish, Alsatian chapter, the chapters were divided into cantons (Kantone).

In addition, there were many ecclesiastical institutions with limited sovereignty within the secular territories; they practiced jurisdiction and collected taxes in their small territories.

German nobility

The German nobility  was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class in the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.

In Germany, all legitimate children of a nobleman became nobles themselves, and most titles passed onto all the children with few exceptions. All the children of sovereigns did not, of course, become kings or electors, but did become princes or princesses, dukes or duchesses, etc.

The German nobility as a legally defined class was abolished on August 11 1919 with the Weimar constitution, when all Germans were made equal before the law, and any legal rights or privileges due to nobility ceased to exist.

The German nobility continues to play an important role in the various European nations that have not abolished the nobility. Most of the European royal families are descendants of the German nobility.

Today, there are many orders in both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Most of these resemble state orders which recognize personal status.

The House of Caputo Nobility Organization recognizes actual service and individual contribution to any church, religion or to the community status. Status in this Organization rests solely on service or contribution. The House recognizes those of good will. The award is classified as a decoration, and thus holders of the award can use their respective post-nominal within the Organization.

To join the Order of Imperial Knighthood, the candidate must swear fealty to the Noble Dynasty of the House of Antioch and Swabia of Caputo Nobility Organization.

THE ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS

The Imperial Knights of Noble Dynasty serve their order in seven different degrees. They are valid in each Chapter worldwide and their post-nominal from lowest to highest as follows:

• 1st Degree Knight or Dame of (KND) or (DND)
• 2nd Degree Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCND)
• 3rd Degree Knight or Dame Officer - Deputy  (KOND) or (DOND)
• 4th Degree Knight or Dame Commander (KCND) or (DCND)
• 5th Degree Honorary Ambassador of Peace of the Order (HAPND)
• 6th Degree Captain General/Ambassador or  (CGND) and (AND), the Captain General becomes Ambassador after having obtained ten Knights in his country.
  
• 7th Degree Knight or Dame Grand Cross of Justice (GCJND)

CATEGORY:

The order can award merits to non-members too. Any member can nominate an individual to the Merit Committee to receive a merit from the order.

Knight/Dame - Must have served within the 6-month probationary period as a Squire or Lady-in-Waiting. The applicant should have served as an assistant or assigned a specific task which has been accomplished.

Knight/Dame Officer/Deputy

• Must have served actively as Knight for at least 1 year or more or,
• Must have initiated at least 2 humanitarian project in the name of the order.

 Knight/Dame Commander - Given to those who have demonstrated honor, the highest principle of chivalry.

• Must have served actively as Knight Officer for 1 year or more or,
• Must be currently serving as a Captain General or,
• Must have initiated 4 humanitarian projects in the name of the order. 

Honorary Ambassador of Peace of the Order. Given to various people whose works have greatly contributed to achieving peace in the world. This is one of the highest honors that are given by the Organization to non-members.

Captain General/Ambassador - Given exclusively by the Prince Grand Master to those who have shown dedication and loyalty to the order.

Grand Cross of Justice is restricted to postulants who have proved hereditary nobility from each of their four grandparents or, when paternal line alone is used, from their paternal great-grandfather.

HIERARCHY 

This hierarchy of ranks follows international standards for the creation and conferment of orders of merit. A candidate, who has been deemed worthy of membership, is formally installed into the first degree. During such a ceremony, the candidate is regarded as regular member upon his solemn accolade.

Later he is obliged as serving brother knight to maintain his “good standing” in the Chapter he joined. He may rise to higher degrees when having complied with respective requirements. They are, in particular, laid down by the Supreme Council, which acts as the highest governing body of the Order.

Each rank implies honour, duties and responsibility. These formalities are emphasized in each of the exaltation rituals. Such ranks are bestowed by the Supreme Council and are not likened to State awards given by Presidents or by Royal families of foreign countries where Chapters of the Order have been established.

The by-laws further provides the Supreme Council with the privilege to award individuals with an honorary membership of every rank. Notably, based on the Order’s constitution and by-laws, a member can be “any person of legal age and good moral character and reputation who believes in Noble Dynasty Organization and is willing to learn more about him and follows his teaching”. However, any legal claim for membership does not exist.

PROMOTIONS

Should a knight be promoted within the Order, he ceases to use the letters denoting his lower rank and uses instead the letters appropriate to his senior rank, eg if Knight John Brown, KND, is promoted to a OND he becomes Knight John Brown, OND.

Where a knight has received has received several Orders of Knighthood, all the appropriate letters must be included after his name in all formal correspondence. It is however permissible in social correspondence with a KG or KT to omit other letters after the name.

Where a knight has received has received several Orders of Knighthood, all the appropriate letters must be included after his name in all formal correspondence.  It is however permissible in social correspondence with a KG or KT to omit other letters after the name.

  

The Order of the Black Falcon is designed to meet all those people of good will who defend the same Chivalric Recognition ideal out to all those who contribute to efforts for Progress, for the Well-being, Culture, and the Understanding of International Solidarity and Augment the House of Noble Dynasty.

• 1st Degree Knight or Dame of (KFND) or (DFND
• 2nd Degree Knight or Dame Officer (KOFND) or (DOFND)
• 3rd Degree Knight or Dame Grand Officer  (KGOFND) or (DGOFND)
• 4th Degree Knight or Dame Grand Cross (KGCFND) or (DGCFND)

THE ROYAL ORDER OF PRINCE OF

ANTIOCH

In Tribute to Corrado Caputo Prince of Antioch

The Royal Order of Prince of Antioch is the highest honor, bestowed to individuals who have contributed significantly to the Cultural, Humanitarian, and Historical promulgation of Noble Dynasty around the world. Individuals must be recognized by their charitable activities, which have a major impact on street children of Guatemala City.

• 1th Degree Knight or Dame Grand Cross (KGCPA) or (DGCPA)
• 2nd Degree Knight or Dame Grand Collar (KGCOPA) or (DGCOPA)

THE DINASTY OF CORRADO (CAPUTO) OF ANTIOCH comes from two Dynasties; one from the Norman Sicily of Altavilla (Hautville and the other from the House of Hohenstaufen. Holy Roman Emperor was an elective office, however, dynastic politics made it effectively hereditary, first with the Hohenstaufen.

The House of Corrado Caputo Prince of Antioch of the House of Hohenstaufen, Vicar General of Sicily, grandson of Frederick II. Prince of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire (1241), Prince of Abruzzo (1267), Prince of Calopezzati, Prince of Toscana, Duke of Spoleto and of Turano, Marquis of Cerveto and Petrella, Count of alba, Celano (1258), Laureto and Abruzzo (1267), Count of Loreto (1285), Baron of Anticoli, Saracinesco, Rocca del Surici, Rocca di Muzzi and Sambuci.

Coat of Arms: The Eagle represents the House of Hohenstaufen while the Lion is the emblem adopted by Corrado Caputo Prince of Antioch. 

(The Italian surname of CAPUTO has the associated coat of arms recorded in Rietstaps Armorial General. Recorded in Naples, Italy)

In the Middle Ages, the accolade (or dubbing) was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood

The accolade is a ceremony to confer knighthood that may take many forms including, for example, the tapping of the flat side of a sword on the shoulders of a candidate or an embrace about the neck

In the first example, the "knight-elect" kneels in front of the on a knighting-stool when the ceremony is performed. First, the Grand Master lays the flat side of the sword's blade onto the accolade's right shoulder. They then raise the sword gently just up over the apprentice's head and places it then on his left shoulder. The new knight then stands up after being promoted and he is presented with the insignia (if any) of the order to which he has been appointed.

FEALTY TO THE ORDER

The first, and most well-known, is exemplified by the oath sworn by a Knight to the Organization. This is called LIEGE FEALTY, and is a promise of -absolute- service and obedience to Noble Dynasty, or to an individual person. The Prince Grand Master, or the individual person, in turn promises to defend that liegeman's "rights and privileges," and in general to be an honorable Lord to that vassal. One swears this kind of fealty -once. - Any other re-swearing of it is simply a renewal, or re-affirmation of the fealty, and should not be required of anyone, but merely optional.

To join the Order of Knighthood in the Noble Dynasty, the candidate must swear fealty to the Prince Grand Master of his Noble Organization during the knighting ceremony.

Oath of Fealty:

"I, the undersigned, do hereby promise on my word of honor, and swear true Faith, Allegiance and Fealty to the Supreme Council of Sovereign Prince Grand Master of Noble Dynasty of the House of Antioch and Swabia of Caputo Nobility Organization.

I hereby attest that I support traditional Chivalric values. I agree to perform charitable and benevolent works in my community in the name of the Organization and in this service to the oppressed poor, sick and lame, oppose the desecration of holy sites anywhere--regardless of religion; and oppose injustices and denial of injustices. 

That I will hold allegiance to the said Supreme Council and be loyal thereto, as the Supreme Authority of the Organization so long as I may continue to reside within its Jurisdiction; will hold illegal and spurious every other body that may be established within its Jurisdiction, claiming to be a Supreme Council of Noble Dynasty.

And Should I violate this, my solemn Vow and Pledge, I consent to be expelled from Noble Dynasty and all rights therein and in any body of the Organization.

This oath do I give of my own free and independent will, so help me God!"

(Signature).

TEUTONIC ORDER

Teutonic Order in Calabria, South of Italy

"The Order of St. Maria of Jerusalem of the House of Antioch and Sevevia was created in 1993. It is a nonpolitical, ecumenical, non-profit, organization, not sponsored by any Royal or Noble House, but dedicated to the charitable works and noble ideals."