The Order of the Black Swan (french: Companie du Cigne Noir or ) was a short-lived
chivalric order
An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order (distinction), order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic Military order (religious society), military orders of the ...
founded by
Amadeus VI of Savoy in 1350. It was defunct by 1364, when Amadeus founded the
Order of the Collar in its stead. Along with Amadeus,
Amadeus III of Geneva
Amadeus III (french: Amédée III, 29 March 1311 – 18 January 1367) was the Count of Geneva from 1320 until his death. He ruled the Genevois, but not the city of Geneva proper, and it was during his time that the term "Genevois" came to be used ...
and
Galeazzo Visconti were the "great lords" (''grans seignours'') of the Order. At the time of its founding, the existence of
black swans was unknown to Europeans.
The order was originally composed of fourteen knights. The requirements of membership were the possession of a
charger and a
palfrey
A palfrey is a type of horse that was highly valued as a riding horse in the Middle Ages. It was a lighter-weight horse, usually a smooth gaited one that could amble, suitable for riding over long distances. Palfreys were not a specific breed ...
, and the ability to serve at one's own expense for one week whenever required. The Order did collect dues (at least from noblemen, ''riches hommes'') for purposes ''estreordinaire'' (extraordinary) according to rank (''puissance''): eight ''
écu
The term ''écu'' () or crown may refer to one of several French coins. The first ''écu'' was a gold coin (the ''écu d'or'') minted during the reign of Louis IX of France, in 1266. ''Écu'' (from Latin ''scutum'') means shield, and the coin ...
s'' from a
knight banneret, four from what they called a ''chivallier simple'', and one from any
squire
In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight.
Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire served as a knight's apprentice. Later, a village leader or a lord of the manor might come to be known as a ...
. Annually on
Saint Andrew's Day
Saint Andrew's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Andrew or Andermas, is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. It is celebrated on 30 November (according to Gregorian calendar) and on 13 December (according to Julian calendar). Saint Andrew is ...
the knights assembled and approved expenditures. In the meantime, the monies were stored in several religious establishments.
The Order's emblem was a black swan with red beak and feet on a white field, and members (''compaignons'') were required to display it, usually on their shields. Members swore an oath to defend each other, even against relatives beyond the degree of first cousin, and to submit all disputes between themselves to the judgement of the membership. Any knight who refused to abide by the arbitration of the others was expelled and his former comrades joined in arms against him.
References
*Charles Buet (1878), ''Les ducs de Savoie aux XVe et XVIe siècles'' (Tours: Alfred Mame et Fils).
* {{cite book , last=Cox , first=Eugene L. , title=The Green Count of Savoy: Amadeus VI and Transalpine Savoy in the Fourteenth Century , url=https://archive.org/details/greencountofsavo0000coxe , url-access=registration , location=Princeton, New Jersey , publisher=Princeton University Press , year=1967 , lccn=67-11030 , page
78–79}
Orders, decorations, and medals of Savoy
1350s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
1350 establishments in Europe
Dynastic orders
House of Savoy