Chancellor of the Order of Australia "Chancellor and Principal Dame" if the incumbent is a 'Dame of the Order of Australia' (AD), or as "Chancellor and Principal Companion" if the incumbent is a 'Companion of the Order of Australia' (AC). The Order of Australia is the only Australian order of chivalry (although certain dynastic British orders of chivalry, such as the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle and the Royal Victorian Order, may still be awarded to Australians by the Monarch). It was established on 14 February 1975 by the Monarch to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement, meritorious service, or
Order of chivalry of the recipient. Both orders and decorations often come in multiple classes. Most orders created since the late 17th century were no longer societies and fellowships of knights who followed a common mission but were established by monarchs or governments with the specific purpose of bestowing honours on deserving individuals. In most European monarchies, these new orders retained some outward forms from the medieval orders of chivalry (such as rituals and structure) but were in essence orders of merit, mainly distinguished from their republican counterparts by the fact that members were entitled to a title of nobility. While some orders