As a knight of the Order of Minerva, you receive an official order name, which you will wear in public from now on. The name of the order can be used on all desired occasions, for example on your own business cards, on the letterhead, on the house sign and can be used when signing contracts. In certain ways it is also possible to have the knight's name taken over in the identity papers. The order name is freely selectable: It can consist of the own name, to which the title "knight" is prefixed, for example "knight Peter Meyer", or one selects an own order name, as for example "knight Peter of Holstein". There are no limits to the possibilities when choosing a name.
Should one decide to join the Order of Minerva and become a knight, one enters into no further obligations. There are no membership fees or the like.
The knight
Knights at that time belonged to the knighthood and had a high reputation and were considered heroes. In the Occident, the knighthood came into being. The knighthood originated in France and then spread to Germany. The principles of a knight were discipline and moderation in all situations of life. Since knights were closely connected to the court, the service of women (Minne) also developed. Today, the knightly imaginary worlds have been handed down to us through the Minnesang, the love poetry of the knights. A knight always had to be loyal to his liege lord, he had to protect widows, orphans and the persecuted. Most knights led a Christian life. Their duties included tireless training with weapons and other martial challenges.
Knights belonged to the lower nobility. In the late Middle Ages, knighthood had developed to such an extent that only those who could prove through their ancestors that they had knightly blood in them were elevated to the knighthood. The men were then knighted by a noble, highly respected ruler. This is still known in England today. (Meanwhile SIR) Elton John was knighted as Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II on February 24, 1998. In Germany today there are still two orders of knighthood that date back to the Middle Ages. These are on the one hand the Roman Catholic Order of Malta and on the other hand the Order of St. John. There is another order in Germany, the Order of Minerva.
The Order of Minerva
The name of the Minerva Order refers to Minerva: in the Roman Empire, she was considered the protector of crafts and trades. Later Minerva was equated with the goddess Athena. Athena protected poets and teachers. Thus Minerva became the goddess of wisdom, art and the guardian of knowledge. The Order of Minerva is a non-religious community whose members seek wisdom and knowledge under Minerva. What is special about this order, called 'Ordo Minerva' in Latin, is that anyone can be given the title of Knight and join this order. Women do not receive the title of 'Knight', but are then referred to as 'Ladies' in the medieval manner of the Order of Knights.
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