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Knights Orders

 



The history of the Knights Orders is closely connected with the history of the crusades, which were held in many regions, in France, on the Iberian Peninsula, the Baltics and especially in the Holy Land. The movement of the crusades was originally assumed by a feeling of excessive religious force, which then get a certain goal by the church. In some regions probably also promoted the overpopulation this new form of "emigration". But something completely new these rides were not: neither on the material side, because migrations of land-seeking people had since the Migration of the Peoples never stopped completely - even on the ideal side, because long before 1096 every spring there had assambled swarms of Jerusalem drivers in Italian ports. What made them so significant, was the idea of the re-conquest of the Holy Land to the actual zeitgeist idea, and remained for a long time, and that all kinds of passions and driving forces of the soul, the best and the worst, the highest and the lowest, commingled with this idea, were subservient to it, got colour and spirit from, and often enough the religious idea was foisted to their own very secular nature. Everything, that crude physical strength and sensory perception even of the saint, the gross ignorance and lack of education, which uniformly subjected the High and the Low, clerics and secular, under the pretensions of an on all sides towering imagination, as well as the naive, filial piety as the equally naive and childlike joy of all new and exotic - all this supported this movement, its basis were the belief in the supernatural, it was a belief, whom strength is not to imagine in our time. First, the realization of the great theocratic idea was necessary, to drive the direction of the fantastic and pious minds to the extreme, and so this time is the period of the highest power of the Church and its institutions. With the same naive boldness, with which the popes of that time the government of the world took in advantage, with the same naivete led to papal legates, patriarchs and in lower region hermits and monks large armies and usurped the conduct of military operations, of which they had no conception. The victims were accordingly. Hardly there will have been used throughout the Middle Ages other military operations or migrations, that would have been even accompanied almost a same immense of loss of life and the same accumulation of human misery, and just not where the ultimate success or failure of mismatch in such a pitiful would have been to set in motion forces. In response to the just-mentioned stormy chaos of the early years of this movement emerged soon after the first successes and failures of the Crusaders mainly on the initiative of their own ranks, the first religious orders of knights. Initially only formed to grant protection to the pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem (Templar), or to giv medical assistance (St. John), they quickly became the only stabilizing elements for unstable structures of the Eastern Crusader States, which needed the entire time of its existence the irregular supply of mostly undisciplined hordes of crusaders. The reason for this was the inner strength of its thouroughly chosen members who grew them in the formation of these organizations from a mixture of feudal hierarchical order, deep faith and monastic discipline. All this did not alter the basic nature of the destructive and predatory mostly by French feudals dominated crusader states, which ultimately led to its failure and thus to the end of the whole movement. The attempts of the great military orders to gain a permanently and supportive, attitude or state forming, foothold in the Holy Land failed largely.

Source: www.ordensstaat.de

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Templar Order


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Templer Templer-Orden Templerorden Tempelherren Order of the Templars
Flag of the Order of the Templars




Seal:

Siegel Seal Templer Templer-Orden Templerorden Tempelherren Order of the Templars
Seal of the Order of the Templars


Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Templer Templer-Orden Templerorden Tempelherren Order of the Templars
Knight of the Order of the Templars

The Knights Order followed the Benedictine rule. However, the Knights have been not dressed in black, but in white, only serving brothers wore black, or brown.


History:

The Templar Order was founded in the 1118. The knights and monks vowed poverty, chastity and obedience, and pledged to protect the pilgrims in the Holy Land. The Order was banned in 1312 after a dubious trial, that the king of France had been enforced. The French knights of the Order were persecuted and oftenly killed. In some countries, for example the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation, the knights and monks joined other orders, mostly the Order of St. John, in other some countries the order continued with an other name, so in Portugal as Order of Christ, or in Spain as Order of Montesa.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of St. John


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Johanniter-Orden Johanniterorden Malteserorden Order of Malta
Flag of the Order of St. John




Flagge Fahne flag Johanniter-Orden Johanniterorden Malteserorden Order of Malta Großmeister Grand Master
Flag of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John




Coat of Arms:

Wappen coat of arms Johanniter-Orden Johanniterorden Malteserorden Order of Malta
today's coat of arms of the Order of Malta


Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Johanniter-Orden Johanniterorden Malteserorden Order of Malta
Knight of the Order of John

The Knights Order followed the Augustinian rule. That's why the Knights have been dressed in black.


History:

The Order of St. John was founded in 1048. Initially employed in nursing, it transformed in the midgle of the 12th century into a military knights order to protect the pilgrims in the Holy Land. Jerusalem was the seat of the Order, from 1291 Rhodes, from 1530 Malta, from 1798 Moscow, from 1803 Catania, from 1826 Ferrara and since 1834 Rome. In the time of its existence in Malta was taken over the name "Maltese Order". When the Order was expelled by Napoleonic troops from Malta in 1798 the order lost its territory, and in many parts of Europe the possessions of the order became confiscated. The Treaty of Verona (1822), confirmed the status of the order as a sovereign, but without its own territory. In 1538 some knights beceme Protestant, and they splitet in a separate order, which took over the name "Order of St. John" and maintained it. Both Orders, the Maltese Order and the Order of St. John, work today in nursing and emergency assistance again. Between 1651 and 1659 the island of Saint Barthélemy was a possession of the Order of Malta, and the northern part of the island of St-Martin was between 1651 and 1665 – as a French fiefdom – a possession of the Order. In 1879 the dignity of the Grand Master (according to the rank of a cardinal) was renewed by the Pope, and in 1953 the order was confirmed as a sovereign Order (electoral monarchy) and is now recognized by about 50 states and organizations as an object of international law.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Teutonic Order


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Deutscher Orden Teutonic Order Knights
Flag of the Teutonic Order (Teutonic Knights)




Flagge Fahne flag Deutscher Orden Teutonic Order Knights Hochmeister High Master
Flag of the High-Master of the Teutonic Order (Teutonic Knights)




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Deutscher Orden Teutonic Order Knights
Knight of the Teutonic Order

The Knights Order followed the spiritually rule of the Order of St. John, but it was militarily oriented to the Templars, so that they wore white. The white coat was officially granted them not until 1220. Serving brothers wore black, or brown.


History:

The Teutonic Order was founded in 1048. Initially employed in nursing, it transformed in 1198 into a military knights order to protect the pilgrims in the Holy Land. The headquarters of the Order was Acre, from 1291 Venice, from 1309 Marienburg and from 1457 Koenigsberg. In 1225, the Order had been called into the today's East Prussia, to fight the pagan Prussians. In the Golden Bull of Rimini, which had been passed by Emperor Friedrich II., gave to High Master sovereign prerogatives. In 1237 the Livonian Order, was integrated, and the German Order acquired its possessions in Livonia. Until the 15th Century the Order enlarged its possessions in the Baltic Area, its State of the Teutonic Knights. During the Reformation, the Prussian branch of the order became protestant, and the last High Master became determined as Duke of Prussia by the Polish king. The remained catholic part of the Order moved its headquarters to Mergentheim, and became disbanded in 1809 by Napoléon in Germany. In Austria the Order, with its seat in Vienna, continued until today. In 1929 it was converted to a purely religious order. In 1960, the German Lords Order became new established as lay order. It has its headquarters in Frankfurt.

Source: www.ordensstaat.de, Volker Preuss

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Order of St. Lazarus


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Lazarusorden Lazarus Order
Flag of the Order of St. Lazarus
Source, by: Flags of the World




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Lazarusorden Lazarus Order
Knight of the Order of St. Lazarus

The Knights Order followed the Augustinian rule. That's why the Knights have been dressed in black.


History:

The Order of St. Lazaus was first mentioned in 1023. Initially employed in nursing, it transformed in the midgle of the 12th century into a military knights order to protect the pilgrims in the Holy Land. The headquarters of the Order was Jerusalem, and from 1291 Boigny. In the 15th century ended the military activities. The Order has its headquarters now in San Gwann in Malta and is active in nursing and emergency assistance.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of the Holy Grave


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden vom Heiligen Grfrom Order Holy Grave
Flag of the Order of the Holy Grave




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden vom Heiligen Grfrom Order Holy Grave
Knight of the Order of the Holy Grave

The Knights Order followed the Augustinian rule. However, the Knights have not been dressed in black, but in white.


History:

The Order goes back to the in 1099 founded council of priests of the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem under Godfrey of Bouillon. From it emerged an order of Canons Regulars. In the same year, the statutes of the Order of the Holy Grave were laid down. The order was committed to the protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land, but especially the protection of the Holy Sepulchre of Jesus Christ and Holy City of Jerusalem. The five-fold cross symbolizes the five wounds of Christ. The Order, which is under the Vatican, has its headquarters today in Rome and is, like the Order of Malta, a sovereign entity.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Christ


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Christusorden Order of Christ
Flag of the Order of Christ




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Christusorden Order of Christ
Knight of the Order of Christ

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Order of Calatrava, and continued the tradition of the Templars, not least by the openly on the clothing shown red cross. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white.


History:

In 1307 began the investigations and trials against the Templars because of accusations by the king of France. The King of Portugal protectet the Templars in Portugal and reached in 1319 the approval of the Pope for the transfer of the Portuguese branch of the Templars in an own Portuguese, military knights order. The result was the Order of Christ. The headquarters of the Order was in Castro Marim, and from 1357 Tomar. The order was initially committed to the fight against the once invaded Arabs on the Iberian Peninsula, but later he was very heavily involved for geographical discoveries and the conquest of the Portuguese colonial empire. At the beginning of the 16th century the Order began to divide into a spiritual and a military-royal branch. The spiritual branch exists until today, the military branch was closed in 1834 and converted into an order of merit, which was awarded by the king, and until today by the Republic.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Avis


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Avis Avisorden Order of Avis
Flag of the Order of Avis




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Avis Avisorden Order of Avis
Knight of the Order of Avis

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Order of Calatrava, and continued the tradition of the Templars. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white.


History:

In 1162 was founded in Coimbra a Knight Brotherhood, which was committed to the fight against the invaded Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula. The King of Portugal used the knights to defend the city of Évora. In 1166, the Knights Brotherhood has been converted by the Portuguese king in a religious order of knights, which was initially called Order of Évora. Around the year 1187, the rules of the Knights of Calatrava were acquired, a Knights Order from Castile, and in this way the Order of Évora became to the Portuguese branch of the Order of Calatrava. In 1211 the King of Portugal gave the Knights of Évora fortress and city of Avis (Aviz), and in 1224 the headquarters of the Order of Evora was moved to Avis. Hence became usual the name 'Order of Avis'. In 1387 the Knights of Avis elected their own Master out of their middle, without the approval of the Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava. The pope, however, confirmed the election in 1389, which the Order of the Avis made independent from the Order of Calatrava, which was recognized not until 1440 by the Order of Calatrava. The Order of Avis was secularized in 1789 and converted in 1894 in a military order of merit, which is awarded until today.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Montjoie


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Montjoie Order
Flag of the Order of Montjoie




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Montjoie Order
Knight of the Order of Montjoie

The Knights Order followed the Cistercian rule. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white. Was a scapular worn this would have been black (as in the figure).


History:

The Order of Montjoie was founded in 1172 by a Knight of the Order of Santiago in the countries Castile and Aragon. A short time later he was employed in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the Fortress of Ascalon. The Headquarters of the Order was the Fortress of Montjoie near Jerusalem. In the Battle of Hattin in 1187, the Order was almost wiped out, the survivors went back to Trufac in Aragon. Here, the Order was committed to the fight against the invaded Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula, to 1196. In this year the most knights joined the Order of the Templars, the remained knight joined in 1221 to the Order of Calatrava.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Montesa


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Montesa Order of Montesa
Flag of the Order of Montesa




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Montesa Order of Montesa
Knight of the Order of Montesa

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Order of Calatrava, and continued the tradition of the Templars, not least by the openly on the clothing shown red cross. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white.


History:

The Order of Montesa was founded in 1316 by Jacob II of Aragon. His determination was to take up the Knights of the Templer Order, which had been banned in 1312 . Thus, the entire possessions of the Templars in Aragon was transferred to this Order. The Order of Montesa was committed, from the beginning, to the fight against the invaded Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula. The name of the Order goes to the back to the seat of the Order in the castle of Montesa in the town of Peñíscola. The Order of Montesa lived according to the rules of the Order of Calatrava, which was understood and accepted as parent authority. In 1587, the dignity of the Grand Master went over to the King of Spain, and as a result, the Order was transformed into a royal order of merit.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Santiago


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Santiago Order of Santiago
Flag of the Order of Santiago




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Santiago Order of Santiago
Knight of the Order of Santiago

The Knights Order followed the Augustinian rule. However, the Knights have not been dressed in black, but in white.


History:

The Order of Santiago was founded in 1170 by King Alfonso VIII. of Castile, but he probably goes back to a knight's alliance in León because in Leon was then placed the town of Santiago de Compostela, an important pilgrimage center in the region, and the Knights were initially committed to the safety of the pilgrims on their way to Santiago, and, however, years later they were used by the king in the fight against the invaded Arabs on the Iberian Peninsula. The headquarters of the Order was placed from 1174 in Uclés and from 1211 in Mora. In the 12th century splits off a Portuguese branch of the order. In the year 1499 the order became handed over by the Pope to the Kings of Spain, and as a result, the Order was transformed into royal order of merit.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Calatrava


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Calatrava Order of Calatrava
Flag of the Order of Calatrava
Source, by: Flags of the World




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Calatrava Order of Calatrava
Knight of the Order of Calatrava

The Knights Order followed the Cistercian rule. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white. Was a scapular worn this would have been black (as in the figure).


History:

In 1147 King Alfonso VI. of Castile conquered the Castle of Calatrava from the Arabs and gave it to the Order of the Templars, which however retired some time later. Threatened by a reconquest Abbot Raimund Serrat founded in 1158 the religious Order of Calatrava, to organize the defense - which was successful. Out of the religious order was formed a Knights order with the same name, which was committed to the fight against the invaded Arabs on the Iberian peninsula, and it was connected to the King of Castile with fidelity. But in 1196 Calatrava was reconquest by the Arabs, and the Orders headquarters was moved to Salvatierra. After the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 Calatrava was reconquest for the Order of Calatrava. As the Order of the Templars had been banned in 1312, almost all the possessions of the Templars in Castile were transferred to the Order of Calatrava, and it included some Templars in their own ranks. In 1387 the Portuguese branch of the order separated as Order of Avis. In 1490 the Order was transferred from the Pope to the Kings of Spain, and as a result, the Order was transformed into royal order of merit. In 1838 the Order was secularized.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Alcántara


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Alcantara Order of Alcantara
Flag of the Order of Alcántara




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Alcantara Order of Alcantara
Knight of the Order of Alcántara

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Templar Order. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white.


History:

The Order of Alcántara was founded in 1156 under the name 'Order of St. Julian of Pereiro'. Its mission originally was to protect the town of Ciudad Rodrigo in the south of León, and later the entire Extremadura, before the Arabs. As the Order of the Templars had been banned in 1312, some possessions of the Templar Knights in Leon were transferred to the Order of St. Julian. In 1218 the Castle of Alcántara near Rio Tajo was conquered , and it became the new headquarters of the Order. In the afteryears, the name 'Order of Alcántara' came in use, which was even officially adopted in 1253. In the year 1492 the order became handed over by the Pope to the Kings of Spain, and as a result, the Order was transformed into royal order of merit.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of the Wing of St. Michael


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden vom Flügel des heiligen Michael Order of Wing of St. Michael
Flag of the Order of the Wing of St. Michael




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden vom Flügel des heiligen Michael Order of Wing of St. Michael
Knight of the Order of the Wing of St. Michael

The Knights Order followed the Cistercian rule. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white. Was a scapular worn this would have been black (as in the figure).


History:

The Order of the Wing of St. Michael was founded in 1147 after the victorious battles against the Arabs at Ourique Portugal and Santarem. The archangel Michael had intervened helpful in the combat action. The order was intended as an order of merit for knights of the Order of Santiago, and became subordinated under the Cistercian abbot of Alcobaça. It continues until today as a Royal order of merit of the House of Braganza.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Order of Dobrin


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Orden von Dobrin Order of Dobrin
Flag of the Order of Dobrin




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Orden von Dobrin Order of Dobrin
Knight of the Order of Dobrin

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Templar Order. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white, only serving brothers wore black, or brown.


History:

The Order of the Knights of Christ was founded in 1228 on behalf of the Polish Duke of Masovia in Dobrin (Dobrzyn). It consisted mostly of German, but some Polish knights. Its task was to secure Mazovia and the struggle against the pagan Prussians in Prussia. Mazovia was to be saved, but the order stayed relatively ineffective against the Prussians. It was connected to the Teutonic Order in 1234, which was already called into the country by the Duke of Mazovia in 1226, however, it was much more successful.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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Livonian Order


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Schwertbrüderorden Livländischer Orden Livonian Brothers of the Sword
Flag of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Schwertbrüderorden Livländischer Orden Livonian Brothers of the Sword
Knight of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword

The Knights Order followed the Rule of the Templar Order. That's why the Knights have been dressed in white, only serving brothers wore black, or brown.


History:

The Order of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword was founded in 1202 by order of the Bishop of Riga. Its task was to fight the pagan Estonians, Latvians, Livs and Lithuanians in the Baltics. In 1215 Dorpat was conquered and in 1227 the island of Oesel (Saaremaa), and one third of the area in the Baltic came into the possession of the Order, which summoned the Bishop of Riga against the Order. The headquarters of the Order was Castle of Wenden in Livonia. In the battle of Schaulen in the fight against the Lithuanians in 1236, the order was defeated, and the Lithuanians threatened Riga. Therefore, in 1237 the Livonian Order became united with the Teutonic Order by a decision of the Pope, however, the order could retain its own administration within the Livonian Confederation.

Source: Discovery '97, Volker Preuss

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Order of St. Constantin


Flag:

Flagge Fahne flag Konstantinorden Order of St. Constantin
Flag of the Order of St. Constantin




Coat and shield:

Ritter Mantel Umhang Kleidung Bekleidung Konstantinorden Order of St. Constantin
Knight of the Order of St. Constantin

The knights wore probably originally white, the azure coat may have come later.


History:

The Order of St. Constantin was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Isaac Angelus in the year 1190, but it should allegedly go back to Emperor Constantine I. (the Great, emperor from 313 to 337). About his role in the time of the Crusades and the afteryears is nothing known. Initially it must have been a Greek Orthodox Order to preserve the faith, however, its goals were later, the defense of the Holy Catholic Church and the support of the Holy See. It changed over the years into an order of merit. Its seat was initially Constantinople, since 1699 Parma, later Naples, and since 1860 it is Rome.

Source: Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuss

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