The Courtly Lives - Christian Orders/Secular Orders

Christian/Secular Orders
A Brief History
Written by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska:

In the 12th century many Christian Orders sprang up as a result of the fervor of religion fueled by the Crusades to the Holy Lands.

In the 14th and 15th century, "Secular Orders" of knighthood were popularized. These orders were concerned with the rewards and celebrations of worldly honor. Most of these orders associated themselves with specific saints (St. George being the most popular saint) or feast days. They concerned themselves with charitable foundations, endowed chantry chapels, paid for masses, and all had ordinances for religious services before and after their meeting.

Some Early Christian Orders were:

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR:

The Knights Templar was founded in 1115 by Hugh de Payens and Geoffrey de St. Omer. They were originally known as the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon The Order was recognized by the Church at the Council of Troyes in 1128, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the most influential churchman of the day. Bernard was commissioned to write the rules by which they should live.
Catholic Encyclopedia - Knights Templar

THE HOSPITALLERS OF SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM:

The Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem was founded in 1113 and was dissolved in 1309. They were incorporated as a military order, and they were also a charitable group that cared for the sick and weary pilgrims in the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem. Their service in the East was parallel to that of the Knights Templars. They built the Krak de Chevaliers castle.

THE KNIGHT OF RHODES:

The Knights of Rhodes was founded in 1309 and was dissolved in 1522. They originated as the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem.

THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA:

The Knights of Malta were the third name change from the original Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. They have been known as The Knights of Malta since 1530.

THE ORDER OF THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS:

The Order of the Teutonic Knights looked after German piligrims on their journey to the Holy Lands. The had a hospital out of the city of Acre during the seige by Richard the Lionheart in 1191. They were incorporated as the Teutonic Knights of the Hospital of St. Mary, the Virgin.

The Teutonic Knights combined with smaller orders such as the Brethen of the Sword and the Order of Dobrzyn, which had been fighting farther north in Livonia (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania). Lipno is a city located in the center of Dobrzyn-land, a country in Mazovia called so since the Middle Ages, after the Order of Dobrzyn Brothers were settled here by Duke Conrad. The city is surrounded by hills of post glacial origin, 100-117 m. over the sea level, along a small river called Mien. The oldest seal of the city dates from the 14th century and shows a knight of the Teutonic Order, flanked by two trees, with a bird on each of the trees. The city at the time was a possession of the Teutonic Order. The old seal of the city of Golub-Dobrzn (16th century) shows the female figure holding a bird. It is not known who the female represents. "Golab" is Polish for "dove"
Catholic Encyclopedia on the Teutonic Knights

THE KNIGHTS OF LAZARUS:

The Knights of Lazarus was established in the Holy Lands in 1130 to treat lepers. It ceased to exist in the late 18th century.
The Catholic Encyclopedia on The Order of Saint Lazarus

THE HOSPITALLERS OF ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY:

The Hospitallers of St Thomas of Canterbury was established in 1190.

THE KNIGHTS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNTIOIE:

The Knights of Our Lady of Mountioie was established in 1175 and in 1221 was absorbed into the Knights of Calatrava in Spain.

THE KNIGHTS OF CALATRAVA:

The Knights of Calatrava were established in 1160 and were dissolved in 1500. They were a Spanish order. The Templars and Hospitallers were given castles in Spain by Alfonso the Warrior of Aragon in 1134. The Templars held the Castle of Calatrava, but in 1157 they abandoned the castle and offered it to King Sancho of Castile. Diego Valazquez, a Spanish nobleman, who turned into a Cistercian monk, persueded his abbot, Ramon de Fiero, to allow the monks to move into the castle and enlist knights to protect it from the Moors. In 1164, Ramon died, but the knights remained there and continued the Order of Calatrava. They swore their oath of the King of Castile.
The Military Order of Calatrava (Catholic Encyclopedia)

THE ORDER OF SANTIAGO:

The Order of Santiago was given by the Pope. They were independant of the other two Spanish Orders. They protected pilgrims traveling to the Shrine of St. James of Compostela. They adopted the rules of the Augustinian canons, and their knights could marry, though their property remained in possession of the order.
The Order of Santiago

THE ORDER OF ALCANTERA:

The Order of Alcantara was a smaller version of the Order of Calatrava. They followed the Cisterian Rule and were loyal to the King of Castile.

THE KNIGHTS OF IAGO:

The Knights of St Iago were established in 1160.

THE ORDER OF OUR LADY OF RANDSOM:

The Order of Our Lady of Ransom was established in 1218.
Catholic Encyclopedia on this Order

THE KNIGHTS OF ST. GEORGE OF ALFAMA:

The Knights of St. George of Alfama were established in 1200 and was dissolved in 1400.

THE KNIGHTS OF OUR LADY OF MONTESA:

The Knights of Our Lady of Montesa was established in Portugal and was disbanded in 1600.

THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST:

The Knights of Christ were established in 1312. The Knights of Christ, of Portugal, and The Order of the Knights of Montesa, of Spain, were created under the suppression of the Knights Templar.
The Order of the Knights of Christ(Catholic Encyclopedia)

THE ORDER OF EVORA:

The Order of Evora was established in 1160.

THE ORDER OF AVIZ:

The Order of Aviz was established in 1218 and was dissolved in the 15th century.

THE ORDER OF ST. JAMES OF ALTOPASCIS:

The Order of St. James of Altopascis was established in Italy in the 10th century.

THE ORDER OF THE BRETHEN OF THE SWORD:

The Order of the Brethen of the Sword was founded in Livonia (Germany) and was absorbed by the Teutonic Knights in 1197.

THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE:

The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded by Philip III, "the Good," Duke of Burgundy in 1430. The French called it "L'ordre De La Toison D'or," the German called it "Der Orden Vom Goldenen Vlies," and the Spanish called it "La Orden Del Toisón De Oro." This Order was later associated with Habsburg Austria and with Spain.

The order was founded to commemorate Philip's wedding there to Isabella of Portugal. Its first chapter was held at Lille in 1431, and in 1432 its seat was fixed at Dijon, capital of the duchy of Burgundy.

Order a replica of the Golden Fleece

Some Other Popular Secular Orders were:

THE ORDER OF THE GARTER:

The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348 by Edward II of England. More Information

THE ORDER OF THE STAR:

The Order of the Star was founded in 1351 by John of France

THE ORDER OF THE KNOT:

The Order of the Knot was founded in 1352 by King Louis of Naples. This Order was also known as the Order of the Holy Ghost, and was limited to 100 Knights. The Order of the Holy Ghost was re-organized in 1578.

THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN BUCKLE:

The Order of the Golden Buckle was founded in 1355 by Emperor Charles IV

THE ORDER OF THE WHITE EAGLE:

The Order of the White Eagle was founded in 1325 by King Wladyslaw V, the White Eagle was a national emblem since 966. The formalized Order was re-invented by Augustus II in 1705/1709. Its mottos was Pro Fide, Rege et Lege (For Faith, King, and Law). This Order is still in existence today as a white eagle on a maltese cross, and the motto is now: For Fatherland and Nation.

THE ORDER OF THE SWAN:

Order of the Swan was founded in 1440 by Elector Frederick of Brandenburg. More Information

THE ORDER OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:

The Order of the Immaculate Conception. This order is Poland's first official order. The Order of the Immaculate Conception was founded on September 14, 1634, on the occasion of the wedding of King Wladyslaw IV. Twelve senators were to be invested as the founding members of this Order. The statues were writtn and the Pope's sanction was obtained, however, the szlachta saw this as an attack upon their "Golden Freedom" and equality, thus forcing the King to abandon this project.

THE ORDER OF SOBIESKI:

The Order of Sobieski was founded in 1685 by King John III Sobieski (1624-1696).

THE ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS:

The Order of St. Stanislaw was originally introduced by Stanislaw August Poniatowski in 1765. Both this Order and the Order of the White Eagle were subsumed (sub+sumere=taken up) into the Russian system of Orders following the failure of the Insurrection in 1830-1831. The Order of St. Stanislas was not reintroduced on the re-establishment of the Republic of Poland, although the Order of Polonia Restituta, established in 1921 (and the hanging on the same ribbon) is considered to be a continuation of the order.

THE ORDER OF VIRTUTO MILITARI:

The Order of Virtuti Militari was introduced by Stanislaw August Poniatowski, in 1792, following the victory of the Polish forces at Zielence during the Russ-Polish War. Originally, the crowned Polish eagle decorated the obverse of the cross, while on the reverse was Pogon, the mounted knight of Lithuania. This Order, with slight changesm has survived to this day and has five classes. The Order of Virtuti Militari is the highest decoration for valor and military prowess. More Info.

THE ORDER OF VIRTUTI CIVILI:

The Order of Virtuti Civili was introduced by Stanislaw August Poniatowski in 1792. More Info.

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Noble birth was the main criteria for membership in a Secular Order, however, these men were to also be of good reputation (sans reproche). Robber knights were excommunicated. Most orders were exclusive to men, however, The the Order of the Dragon of the Count of Foix, the Order of St. Anthony, of the Counts of Hainault, and the Order of the Garter (in its early days) admitted women.

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LINKS:

Hungarian Order of the Dragon The website of the imposter "Prince Michael of Albany" ... Order of the Dragon
Military Orders (Catholic Encyclopedia)

SOURCES:

Miller, David. Brassey's Book of the Crusades. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's Inc., 2001

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