Men-At-Alms

In 1348, King Edward III created Britain’s oldest order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter. As high minded as he was muscular, he also founded a charity for impoverished men-at-arms, who came to be known as the Alms Knights (or Poor Knights). In 1833, their name was changed by William IV to the Military Knights of Windsor. Over the centuries, there have been about six hundred and fifty such knights (far fewer than there have been the Knights of the Garter). Their backgrounds and careers have been very varied: one was a freed slave, another had to bind Casanova over to keep the peace. Most have had a military background (three have held the Victoria Cross) – but there have been astrologers, crusaders, mad baronets, politicians, artists, and con artists. Men-At-Alms tells their stories, set against the history of their times.