Canon Law and Knighthood in Modern Times

Abstract

One of the fascinating intersections of the Canon law and the modern society can be found in the catholic-founded dynastic orders of knighthood. The author conducted a comprehensive review of legal debates, both in the Canon law and in the international law, to provide readers with an up-to-date understanding on this developing topic. Six major views on the appointment of knights are extracted from the review. Then, a new interpretation is proposed, wherein the legitimacy to confer honours and the legitimacy of the orders of knighthood themselves have to be considered separately. Under this method of interpretation, the criterion to judge the legitimacy of an appointment of knight is both the jus honorum of the head of the family and the order of knighthood itself being legitimate. This article provides a unique perspective on how the Canon law affects an unexpected area of the modern society.