Order of the Bath

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry. It was founded by George I, on 18 May 1725. The name comes from an old ceremony, first mentioned in 1128. In the ceremony, men participated in a vigil of fasting, prayer, and taking a bath. They did this on the day before they were made a knight. The ceremony was abolished in 1815.

Military Badge of the Order of the Bath

A drawing of a military star, as awarded to Knights or Dames Grand Cross

The Order is made up of the Sovereign (the British Sovereign), the Great Master (The Prince of Wales since 2024), and three classes of members: (Highest to lowest)

• Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCB)
• Knight or Dame Commander (KCB or DCB)
• Companion (CB)

Because the Order was originally founded as a military order of chivalry, its star (referred to in this use as a "pip") is worn as army officers' rank insignia. Members of the order now belong to either the Civil or the Military Division. The Order's motto is Tria juncta in uno (Latin for "Three joined in one"). This is a reference to either the union of England, Scotland and Ireland, or to the Holy Trinity. A symbol of the Order that is seen over and over has three crowns in it. Another motto, Ich dien (German for "I serve") is used occasionally, but only by members of the military division of the Order.

The Order is the third oldest of the British Orders of Chivalry, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and before The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick. The last of those Orders–which relates to Ireland, no longer a part of the United Kingdom–still exists, but is no longer active; no appointments have been made to it since 1934.