Star, Order of the

The original Company of the Star, founded in France during the reign of John le Bon, (John the Good),was intended to bring the French chivalry , increasingly fragmented, back together under the Crown , much in the same mannerhas John’s archival, Edward III, had done with the Order of the Garter in 1347. Originally 500 knights were admitted into the Company; by their charter John was their president, they would meet at the Noble Maison once per year for a grand feast at which they would exchange their deeds of the past year, and that members of the order would be taken care of with a pension from the Company when they were too old to maintain their estates. Unfortunately, their charter also dictated that they would never flee more than 100 arpents from any battle, a declaration which resulted in the death of most of the Star companions at the Battle of Mauron (13xx), the rest were slain at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

Geoffrey de Charnay, a founding member of the Company, was one of the last Companions, slain carrying the Oriflamme.