Until 2 June 2024, you can visit the ‘Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled‘ at the Museum Hof van Busleyden in Mechelen (Malines in French, Mechlin in older English). 

“Mounted knights ride through Mechelen’s Grote Markt in a colourful procession. It is 1491, and a special chapter of the Order of the Golden Fleece has descended on the city on the Dyle“, the museum sets the scene. 

“A little golden ram’s fleece glitters on a neck chain in the spring light. The symbol of a knightly order that captures the imagination to this day. A symbol of not just power, but elitism, religion and political allegiance.”

The exhibition ‘Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled’ allows you to relive the gathering of the knights in 1491, one of the biggest and most significant festivities in the history of Mechelen. Your introduction to the famous Burgundian knighthood is made through a unique set of 15th-century coats of arms, created especially for the Mechelen convocation. This is the first time that the 29 coats of arms have been visible at such close quarters since their restoration.”

“The exhibition disentangles the political intrigues and plotting behind one of Europe’s earliest political alliances – described by some as the forerunner to the European Union. Does the EU wish to align itself here with the grand tradition of the Burgundian Dukes? And while the Order may be a forerunner of the European Union, would we necessarily want it as our model for the future?”

‘Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled’ benefits from the Royal Protection of His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians. The King is a knight in the Austrian branche of the Order. Nowadays, there are branches in Spain and in Austria. His father, King Albert II, is a knight in both branches. 

The exhibition was created in association with the City of Mechelen, the Province of Antwerp, Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral, the Périer-D’Ieteren Foundation and the media partners Knack, De Standaard and Klara. 

The exhibition marks the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union (January to June 2024) and is part of the Construct Europe 2024 city festival programme.

A visit

The exhibition is located in the basement, where temporary exhibitions are housed. The exhibition introduces you to the Burgundy of the 15th Century, which stretched from present-day Bourgogne in France to the Low Countries. The Duchy of Brabant, where Mechelen was (and in a way still is) located. 

You get to see texts documenting the founding of the chivalry order, an old necklace of the order and many paintings. Further you see a more modern necklace, the one given to King Albert I by HIRM Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, in 1907. The certificate or diploma is also shown. A very neatly calligraphed parchment, in French, bestowing knighthood. 

But the star(s) of the exhibition are by far the restored panels with the coats of arms of the knights of the order in 1491. Only seven where actually present at the chapter, but everyone was represented.

Besides old artifacts, the exhibition als showcases modern art. As ‘Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled’ is one big ode to power and pageantry, critical (side)nodes couldn’t be omitted. Also, they fill the room. For me, this addition felt cringe and forced or contrived. Almost a parody on being critical of power dynamics. Of course an order of chivalry is a show of power. These ‘critical notes’ feel like they just found out. 

Anyway. If you’re into heraldry and / or medieval history sensu lato, this exhibition will certainly scratch your itches. 

More about the Order of Golden Fleece

The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (Spanish: Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, German: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies, French: Ordre de la Toison d’Or, Dutch: Orde van de Gulden Vlies) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges in the County of Flanders by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal. 

Today, two branches of the order exist, namely the Spanish and the Austrian Fleece. The current grand masters are King Felipe VI of Spain and Karl von Habsburg, head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, respectively. The Grand Chaplain of the Austrian branch is Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna.

The separation of the two existing branches took place as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). The grand master of the order, Charles II of Spain (a Habsburg), had died childless in 1700, and so the succession to the throne of Spain and the Golden Fleece initiated a global conflict. 

On one hand, Charles, brother of the Holy Roman Emperor, claimed the crown as an agnatic member of the House of Habsburg, which had held the throne for almost two centuries. However, the late king had named Philip of Bourbon, his sister’s grandchild, as his successor in his will. 

After the conclusion of the war in 1714, Philip was recognized as King of Spain, but the hitherto Spanish Netherlands, the old Burgundian territories, fell to the Austrian Habsburgs. Thus the two dynasties, namely the Bourbons of Spain and the Habsburgs of Austria, have ever since continued granting the separate versions of the Golden Fleece.

Current knights of the Spanish order include Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan, former Tsar Simeon of Bulgaria, and Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, amongst 13 others. 

Knights of the Austrian branch include 33 noblemen and princes of small territories in Central Europe, most of them of German or Austrian origin.