This order was founded in 1540 by King James V who being honoured with the order of the Garter from his uncle King Henry VIII of England and with the Goldern Fleece from the Emperor, and the order of St Michael from France, resolved to be in the royal mode, and so made the order of the Thistle for himself and twelve knights, in imitation of Christ and his twelve apostles. Then celebrating all the festivals of the orders, he set up their arms and badges over the gate of his palace at Linlithgow, joing St. Andrew with them.

The common badge (shown left) worn by the knights are, a cross surmounted by a star of four silver points, and over them a green circle bordered and lettered with gold, containing the motto "Nemo me impune lacessit", "No-one harms me without punishment" but more commonly translated in Scots as as "Wha daurs meddle wi me". and in the centre is a thistle proper, the whole being embroidered on the left breast.