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Today, there are different ways one can become a knight.

People can become knights because a sovereign who is able to knight someone wishes to reward them for some meritorious public service. Sir Alec Guiness and Sir Elton John are examples of people who received the knighthood in this way. Some European kings and the Pope grant knighthoods.

A person can be elevated to knighthood by an independent order of chivalry, such as the Order of the Knights of Malta, and this is also normally done for public service. The Knights of Malta is one of four continuation of the Knights Hospitaller that are closely related to each other

There are a number of orders of knighthood, such as the Knights of Columbus, which have no background in chivalry, but are nonetheless worthwhile organizations. These are usually fraternal organizations. People in these organizations can be called knights, but it is not quite the same thing as being granted a title by monarch or historical order of chivalry.

There are a number of self-styled orders of knights, some of which have been based on fraudulent claims of one sort or another. To join such an organization, you pay money. The legitimacy of the title you get is no greater than if you simply give yourself a title.

There is a link below to an article on Self-styled Orders, and another to the the Fount of Honor, which relates to the foundations of legitimate orders of chivalry.

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14y ago

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