Order of the Porcupine

The Order of the Porcupine (French: Ordre du Porc-Épic, Ordre du Camail) was established by Louis de France, Duke of Orléans, in 1394,[2] at the occasion of his elder son Charles of Orléans' baptism.

Louis I, Duke of Orleans declared himself Grand Master of the Order and conferred membership on the lords of his court, with the aim of linking their faithfulness to his person.

The knights' number was set to twenty-five, Sovereign Chief included.

[3] During Charles' captivity at Mont-St. Michel, he gave membership into the order to Jean d'Argouges and Pierre Crespin.

The knights received, on the day of their nomination, a gold ring adorned by a cameo (called in French at the period, "camaïeu" or "kamaheu" or even "camail") upon which a porcupine was engraved.

Ceremonial cloth of a knight of the Order (François de Poilly, Reconstruction of the 17th century) [ 1 ]
Order's collar.
Knight of the Order