Order of Knights of the Bath

A military order in Great Britain, deriving its name from the ceremony of bathing, which was performed at the initiation of the knights. The earliest authentic instance of this ceremony was at the coronation of Henry IV. (1399). The last occasion on which this ceremony was used was the coronation of Charles II., in 1660, after which the order fell into oblivion until it was revived by George I., in 1725. It is now the second in rank among the orders of England, the order of the Garter being the highest. The order of the Bath comprises three cla es: first cla , Knights Grand Cro (K.G.C.), the number of whom is limited to 50 military men and 25 civilians, besides the royal family; second cla , Knights Commanders (K.C.B.), = 102 military and 50 civil; these and the first have the title of Sir; third cla , Companions (C.B.), = 525 military and 200 civil.