Christian Military Religious Orders

**Afonso I of Portugal** · 06-30-2005, 23:13

I'm looking for all kind of information about all Christian Military Religious Orders across Europe and middle east. Date of foundation, their costumes and crosses, military campains and battles, main castles, how did they end, and so on...

Here is a list of the main orders i found, with date of foundation (militarisation):

1120 Knights Templar
1136 Knights of St John
1142 Knights of St Lazarus
1158 Order of Calatrava
1170 Order of Santiago
1173 Order of Montjoie
1176 Order of Aviz
1193 Teutonic Order
1202 Livonian Brothers of the Sword
1227 Knights of St Thomas
1261 Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1270 Order of Santa Maria de Espana
1290 Order of San Jorge de Alfama
1319 Order of Christ
1317 Order of Montesa
1408 Ordo draconis
1459 Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem

**edyzmedieval** · 07-01-2005, 07:06

Also, to add

Order of the Lizard, who turned against the Teutons at Tannenburg 1410
Order of the Star(something like this), appeared in France....

So, the info.....

Knights Templar - Founded in 1120, they wore a red cross on a white mantle, they fought many battles like Hattin 1187, Acre 1291..... They had their foundations in France, near Rennes-le-Chateau, important castles they didn't have many(Kerak was the most powerful and famous), they were famous for their monasteries..... Their end was in 1312, when King Fillip confiscated their lands because he wanted their huge wealth....

Knights of St John - Known as the Knights Hospitaller, Knights of Rhodes or Knights of Malta.... They started as a cleric order, but after that they became knights, and they were the equal of the Templars. Their most powerful castle was Krak des Chevaliers in Syria and also the Island of Malta which is the most fortified island in the world. They still exist as a cleric order.

Teutonic Knights - Founded in 1193, they were official in the 1226, with the official Bull from Rimini which made them a fighting order. They started like the Hospitaller Knights. After that they became the most powerful order(in my opinion). After the disbanding of Crusades, they conquered Prussia(from the Pagans) and Pomerania(from the Poles). They were a very powerful order, having a powerful and big army. They suffered many defeats however, the defeat at Lake Peipus in 1246 by Alexander Nevskii and at Tanneberg in 1410 by the combined Polish/Lithuanian army. In 1525 the order was secularised but today, they exist!!!! They have many offices, the main is in Vienna, Austria.

Livonian Brothers of the Sword - Founded in Livonia(present day Estonia and Latvia) and later they were included in the Teutonic Knights.

The Order of Santiago - The most powerful order from Spain, originally protecting pilgrims in the Crusading States. They also were a powerful order, with hardy and powerful knights. The Battle at Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 marked their peak.

The Order of Calatrava - The second powerful order from Spain, they often fought with the Moors from Spain. Also, the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 marked their peak.

That's all I know....

And for links: www.templarhistory.com

Cheers!

**Ulrih fon Jungingen** · 07-01-2005, 08:40

Livonian Brothers of the Sword - Founded in Livonia(present day Estonia and Latvia) and later they were included in the Teutonic Knights.

Livonian Brothers of the Sword was founded in beg of 13th century to protect cristianic interests on Baltic and to help spread of cristianity. Conquered livs and lets in Latvia and all Estonia, but were beaten in 1236 battle of Saule so badly that had to unite with Teutonic order and became as Livonic order. This actually happened after long discussions, because Livonian Brothers had very bad reputation, so bad, than even Teutonics didn`t want to deal with them.

**cegorach** · 07-01-2005, 10:01

Knights of Dobrzyn

Small Polish order founded to fight against pagan Prussians. Never too big - absorbed by the Teutonic Order as far as I remember.

**Afonso I of Portugal** · 07-03-2005, 17:07

Thanks,

And the dates of foundation of the orders you've mention?

Knights of Dobrzyn
Order of the Lizard? are you sure? isn't the same as Order Of the Dragon?
Order of the Star

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 07-03-2005, 17:21

1136 Knights of St John

Or better knowna as Knights Hospitalers or their full title . The Sovereign Military Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta.

The order was founded in the early 12th century, and their original purpose was to protect a hospital built in Jerusalem by Gerard before the first Crusade. The brothers were sworn to assist the defense of Jerusalem, as well as to poverty, chastity and obedience.

The first leader of the order, Gerard, was called rector, and later leaders were called grand masters. Due to the protective duties in an extremely troubled time, the Hospitalers was a military order, and the knights were armed and of noble birth. In the Holy Land, they formed a community under the Rule of St. Augustine that endured until the failure of the Crusades.

**edyzmedieval** · 07-03-2005, 20:29

Originally Posted by King_Of_Portugal_2

Thanks,

And the dates of foundation of the orders you've mention?

Knights of Dobrzyn
Order of the Lizard? are you sure? isn't the same as Order Of the Dragon?
Order of the Star

Here's some info I found from a book about medieval times from 1986!!!

Knights of Dobrzyn - founded in 1216, small military order, absorbed by the Teutonic Knights in 1228

Knights of Alcantara - founded in 1176, small Spanish military order, absorbed by the Knights of Santiago

Knights of the Lizard - founded in 1397, by a Polish knight, who was a member of the Teutonic Knights. They were the Lizard League. They were accused of treachery at the Battle of Tannenberg/Grunwald because they helped the Poles although they were with the Teutonic Knights.

I'll find more.....

BTW, check www.chivalricorders.org