Ich Dien (German: I serve) was the motto under the plume of ostrich feathers found in the helmet of the king of Bohemia slain at the Battle of Cressy, at which he served as a volunteer in the French army, in 1346. Edward the Black Prince, in respect to his father, Edward III, who commanded at the battle, adopted the motto which has since been borne with the feathers, by the heirs to the crown of England. Research Ich Dien
Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. He was born in 1330 and died in 1376. He first distinguished himself at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 where he commanded part of
the forces, and it was on this occasion that he adopted the motto Ich dien (I serve), used by all succeeding princes of Wales. In 1355 he commanded the army which invaded France from Gascony, and in 1356 won the Battle of Poitiers and in 1360 the peace of Bretigny was made by which the provinces of Poictou, Saintonge, Perigord, Limousin were annexed to Guienne and formed into a sovereignty for the prince under the title of the Principality of Aquitaine.. In 1367 he went to the aid of Pedro the Cruel, king of Castile and defeated Henry of Trastamare at Najera. To recoup his expenses incurred in Spain Edward levied a hearth tax on his Gascon subjects, who rebelled and appealed to the French king, Charles V. War was declared in 1369 and the English suffered disaster, Edward retreating to England. He was the first duke created, in 1337 being made duke of Cornwall. Research Edward the Black Prince
The Order of the Bath or Knights of the Bath was an order of England, supposed to have been instituted by Henry IV on the day of his coronation, but allowed to lapse after the reign of Charles II until 1725, when George I revived it as a military order. By the book of statutes then prepared the number of knights was limited to the sovereign and thirty-seven knights companions; but the limits of the order were greatly extended in 1815, and again in 1847, when it was opened to civilians. It now consists of three classes, each subdivided into (1) military members, (2), civil members, and (3), honorary members, consisting of foreign princes and officers. The first-class consists of Knights of the Grand Cross (GLCB); the second of Knights Commanders (KCB); and the third of Companions (CB). The Dean of Westminster is dean of the order. The ribbon of the order is crimson; the badge a gold cross of eight points, with the lion of England between the four principal angles, and having in a circle in the centre the rose, thistle, and shamrock between three imperial crowns; motto: 'Tria juncta in uno' Stars are worn by the two first classes, with the additional motto 'Ich dien'. Research Order of the Bath
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