The royal families of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have dynastic laws very similar to those of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia (though certain of their principles are based on medieval practices influenced to some extent by Koranic law). Dynastic succession based on election is sometives criticized for its seemingly tenuous nature; it occasionally prompts familial disputes and even civil war. Even under peaceful circumstances, subjects do not know who their new king will be until the family council takes its joint decision. However, it should be remembered that fratricidal dynastic wars had been known in Europe for centuries, while some of the longest-lived monarchies, including the Vatican and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, still elect a new sovereign upon the death of a former one. Orders of Knighthood: The Ethiopian Crown has traditionally bestowed honours in several orders of chivalry. Awarded for merit, most were established in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on the model of the honours conferred by European monarchies. An exception is the older Order of Saint Anthony, distinctly religious in character. Today, the Imperial Crown Council bestows decorations upon those who have made worthy contributions to Ethiopia, its people and culture, or, in certain instances, upon individuals who have contributed to the cause of African culture and unity. In keeping with Ethiopia's multicultural heritage, most of these decorations are bestowed without respect to the conferee's religion or nationality. There are both male ranks (knights) and female ones (dames) in most of the orders. Most of the orders are active (extant), though some are only rarely bestowed today.