On humility, military tradition, and the things that outlast us I have always thought there is something to be said for knowing when to be quiet. It is a simple enough proposition, though one that seems to have fallen out of fashion. We live in a world that rewards commentary, celebrates personalities, and encourages nearly … Continue reading A Reminder at the Tomb
Category: Honor and Rank
Essays examining the traditions of honor, status, and social responsibility that historically governed reputation and authority. These posts explore aristocratic culture, the idea of the gentleman, and the enduring tension between genuine honor and its imitation in modern society.
Borrowed Armor
I recently finished Stephen Fry’s retelling of the Trojan War1, and as often happens with old stories, one episode lingered longer than the rest. It is the moment when Patroclus puts on Achilles’ armor. Achilles, in a fit of pride and grievance, has withdrawn from the fighting. Without him, the Greeks begin to lose ground. … Continue reading Borrowed Armor
A Gentleman in a Shifting World
I first met Count Alexander Rostoff through Ewan McGregor’s portrayal in the miniseries—his quiet grace, his sly humor, the way he could make a simple cup of tea feel like an act of rebellion. On my daily commute, I’m revisiting his story in the audiobook, listening as he arranges flowers in the Metropol lobby or … Continue reading A Gentleman in a Shifting World
The Curious Case of the King of Mann — A Coda
In 2013, I wrote about David Drew Howe, the Maryland man who briefly stepped into the public eye by asserting a hereditary claim to the medieval title “King of Mann.” At the time, his story was circulating widely enough to merit attention: an American genealogical enthusiast announcing a royal lineage, a minor media stir, and … Continue reading The Curious Case of the King of Mann — A Coda
The allure of fake orders of chivalry
Caveat Emptor: This is solely my opinion; take it with a grain of salt. Supposedly, the world we live in is full of equal people; surely we can see this when we look around. When I look around, unfortunately, this is not what I see. I see a world that is more akin to what we … Continue reading The allure of fake orders of chivalry
Sovereign Magistral Order of the Temple of Solomon
Sometime back I wrote about the curious case of the king of Mann, and it has been brought to my attention that "prince David, king of Mann, is involved with another quasi-monarchic entity. Apparently now there also exists the Sovereign Magistral Order of the Temple of Solomon, which claims to be the true, for real, … Continue reading Sovereign Magistral Order of the Temple of Solomon
The Curious Case of the King of Mann
Given my fascination with nobility, monarchies, and the recognized noble houses of current republics, I often stumble across web sites for such entities, and those who claim (sometimes dubiously) to be noble. Recently, I found a website1 for David Drew Howe, pretender to the throne of the Isle of Mann. The site overflows with information … Continue reading The Curious Case of the King of Mann
