The Order of Saint Stanislas, one of the true, great and historic orders of chivalry, was founded by the last native King of Poland, Stanislas Augustus Poniatowski on May 8^th 1765.

The initial works to which all Companions of the Order pledged their support were the Hospital of Jesus the Child in Warsaw and the National Library established by King Stanislas Augustus.

Today the goals of the Order and the obligations of the Companions remain similar to those of the founders.

As Poland lost her independence and her territory was divided among Russia, Prussia and Austria, the Order was taken over by the Tsar of Russia. After the inclusion of Poland and the Russian Empire the Order became both Polish and Russian. Its award included a grant of nobility and the Companions continued their support of charities.

With the abdication and subsequent assassination of Tsar Nicholas II, VII Grand Master of the Order the award of the Order fell into abeyance. The newly independent Polish State established in 1918 did not revive it.

In 1979 in celebration of the 900^th Jubilee Year honouring the martyrdom of St. Stanislas the President of the free Polish Government in exile, Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki, re-established the Order for its original purpose.

The 1990, following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Poland and a free election of a new president, the Free Polish Government in Exile relinquished its authority in favour if this newly elected Government. Control of other Polish decorations was returned to Warsaw but, by decree of the President, the Order of St. Stanislas had been separated from the jurisdiction of the Republic of Poland, and became an independent Order.

Under the inspired leadership, of H.S.H. Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki the Order has advanced internationally and now has approximately 3000 Companions world-wide.

The headquarters of the Order are in England but the spiritual home of the Order remains in Wavel Castle in Krakow, the burial site of St. Stanislas.