In my visits to the PradoMuseum with children I like to encourage them to look at those gentlemen carrying around their neck a ”ram” figurine, since they will probably were Kings of Spain. This a perfect point to start the story about the mythological origins of this country, Spain.
The name of the order refers to the Greek myth of the Golden Fleece, a gift from the gods, which brought a source of prosperity to whoever possessed it. It evokes the tale of chivalry, heroism, perils and teamwork led Jason, Hercules, and the Argonauts in order to bring the precious talisman to Pelias King from the Asian city of Colchis.
“La orden del Toisón de Oro” (The Order of the Golden Fleece) was an institution that Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, founded in 1420 to defend the ideals of chivalry, and whose sovereignty passed to the Crown of Castile when Philip the Fair, son and heir of Mary of Burgundy, married Juana I of Castile, daughter of the Catholic Kings. Since then, the King of Spain presides over the Order, and a gold chain with the talisman is conferred to the Knights of the Order at their inauguration.
I highly recommend the exhibition at Foundation Carlos de Amberes (Charles of Antwerp) in Madrid. It’s a nice opportunity to learn about our history and appreciate good masterpieces, such as “The Martydom of S. Andrew”, the patron of the Order, by Rubens, which belongs to the Foundation since 1639 , or the only work in our country by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres “Philip V confers the Golden Fleece to the Duke of Berwick”.
Notice in several pictures the cross-shaped cross, called Burgundy. It was the emblem of the Thirds of Flanders and it is still part of the shields of the King and the Spanish Army.And now, go back to the Prado and look the flags at Velazquez masterpiece “ The surrounded of Breda”
