Termination at the beginning of the 11th century. The raids of the Hungarians, Arabs, and Normans contributed to the successful economic development of European countries and rapid population growth. However, by the end of the 11th century. this led to an acute shortage of available land. Wars and their companions - famine and epidemics - have become more frequent. People saw the cause of all misfortunes in punishments for sins. The best way visiting holy places, especially Palestine, where the Holy Sepulcher was located, was considered a way to get rid of sins. But after the capture of Palestine by the Turks and Seljuks, who were intolerant of non-Muslims, pilgrimage there became almost impossible.

The idea of ​​​​a campaign against Muslims to liberate the Holy Sepulcher received everything greater distribution in Europe. This was not only a charitable deed, but also a way to provide land for both feudal lords and peasants. Everyone dreamed of rich booty, and merchants hoped for trade benefits. In 1095 the Pope Urban II called for a campaign in Palestine. Participants in the campaign decorated their clothes and armor with crosses - hence its name. Both feudal lords and peasants took part in the first crusade.

In 1096-- 1099 The crusaders conquered Syria and Palestine from the Seljuk Turks. There arose the Kingdom of Jerusalem, whose vassal possessions were the counties of Edessa and Tripolitan and the Principality of Antioch. The crusader states waged constant wars with the Muslim rulers of the surrounding countries. Gradually, the crusaders, of whom there were not very many in the East, began to lose their possessions. There were seven more major crusades. Peasants almost no longer took part in them, but emperors and kings often led the knights. However, all these campaigns were almost in vain. During the Fourth Crusade, the crusaders attacked Constantinople and took it in 1204. They created the Latin Empire on the lands of Byzantium. Only in 1261 did the rulers of the Nicene Empire, which had survived from Byzantium, manage to liberate Constantinople. But Byzantium never regained its former power.

In Palestine, with the support of the popes, spiritual knightly orders. Those who joined the order became warrior monks. The first to arise Order of the Knights Templar. Then it was created Order of the Hospitallers. Later arose Warband. The knight-monks lived off the lands that belonged to the orders in Palestine and Europe. Detachments of order knights differed from ordinary feudal troops in their discipline. However, over time, the orders grew richer, and their members ceased to show their former zeal in military affairs. Many of them surrounded themselves with luxury. It was even claimed that the Templars, who became especially rich, secretly renounced Christianity.

Meanwhile, the Muslim onslaught intensified. In 1187 the Sultan Salah al-Din(Saladin), who united Syria and Egypt, recaptured Jerusalem. In 1291, the last crusader fortress in Palestine, Acre, fell.

Despite the failure and great sacrifices, the Crusades also had a positive meaning for Western Europe. They contributed to the acquaintance of Europeans with the higher culture of Byzantium and eastern countries at that time, and the borrowing of many achievements. The position of European merchants strengthened. This subsequently led to the development of commodity-money relations, the growth of cities and handicraft production. The outflow of the most militant part of the feudal lords and their death contributed to the strengthening of royal power in a number of European countries.

Emergence knightly orders, due to the advent of the Crusades in the XII-XIII centuries. Such organizations were communities of military personalities and Catholic monks. The ideology of the orders was associated with the confrontation between infidels, pagans, robbers, heretics, Muslims and other unholy heresies they considered. Knights of such orders were on the side of the Inquisition and fought against witches. The plans of the orders included constant attacks and raids on the Holy Land, the Ottoman Empire, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia, Prussia and even Russia. In these lands, their necessity was to introduce Catholicism to the Orthodox believers, or to overthrow Muslim rule by force.
Many knightly orders, under the influence of constant support from the state, became wealthy and dominant. At their disposal were land, peasant labor, economics and politics.
At the head of the knightly order was the Grand Master or Grandmaster. Its leadership was appointed by the Catholic Pope. The master gave instructions to commanders, commanders and marshals. The chiefs had subordinate provincial divisions of the orders. The marshals managed financial affairs. The commanders carried out the orders of castles and fortresses. Volunteers who just joined the orders were called neophytes. Each newcomer underwent a rite of passage. Serving in the knightly order was considered honorable and prestigious. Heroic deeds were greatly appreciated by their fans.
In total there were about 19 orders of knighthood. The most famous of them are the Templar Order, the Hospitaller Order and the Teutonic Order. They are so famous that legends are made about them to this day, books are written, films are made and games are programmed.

Warband

Warband was a German, knightly community with a spiritual ideology, which was formed at the end 12th century.
According to one version, the founder of the order was a noble duke Frederick of Swabia November 19, 1190. During this period, he captured Acre fortress V Israel, where hospital residents found a permanent home for him. According to another version, at the moment when the Teutons captured Acre, a hospital was organized. Ultimately, Frederick transformed it into a spiritual knightly order led by the clergyman Conrad. IN 1198 the community of knights was finally approved under the name of the spiritual knightly order. Many spiritual figures of the Templars and Hospitallers, as well as clergy from Jerusalem, arrived at the solemn event.
The main goal of the Teutonic Order was to protect local knights, heal the sick and fight heretics who, by their actions, contradicted the tenets of the Catholic Church. The most important leaders of the German community were Pope And Holy Roman Emperor.
IN 1212-1220. The Teutonic Order was moved from Israel to Germany , in town Eschenbach, which belonged to the lands of Bavaria. Such an initiative came to the mind of Count Boppo von Wertheim and he turned his idea into reality with the permission of the church. Now the spiritual knightly order began to rightfully be considered German.
By this time, the success of the knightly order began to bring great enrichment and glory. Such a merit could not have been achieved without the Grand Master Hermann von Salza. In Western countries, many fans of the Teutons are beginning to appear, wanting to take advantage of the service of a mighty force and military power German knights. So, Hungarian King Andras II turned to the Teutonic Order for help in the fight against the Cumans. Thanks to this, German soldiers gained autonomy in the lands of Burzenland, southeastern Transylvania. Here the Teutons built 5 famous castles: Schwarzenburg, Marienburg, Kreuzburg, Kronstadt and Rosenau. With such protective support and support, the cleansing of the Polovtsians was carried out at an accelerated pace. In 1225, the Hungarian nobility and their king became very jealous of the Teutonic Order. This led to numerous evictions from Hungary, with only a small number of Germans remaining, joining the Saxons.
The Teutonic Order was involved in the fight against the Prussian pagans in 1217 who began to seize Polish lands. Prince of Poland, Konrad Mazowiecki, asked for help from the Teutonic Knights, in return, promising the captured lands, as well as the cities of Kulm and Dobryn. Sphere of influence began in 1232 , when the first fortress was built near the Vistula River. This justification marked the beginning of the construction of the city of Thorn. Following this, numerous castles began to be erected in the northern regions of Poland. These included: Velun, Kandau, Durben, Velau, Tilsit, Ragnit, Georgenburg, Marienwerder, Barga and famous Koenigsberg. The Prussian army was larger than the Teutonic one, but the Germans cunningly entered into battles with small detachments and lured many to their side. Thus, the Teutonic Order was able to defeat them, even despite the assistance of the enemy from the Lithuanians and the Pomeranians.
The Teutons also invaded Russian lands, taking advantage of the moment of their weakening from the Mongol oppressors. Gathering a united army Baltic And Danish crusaders, and also inspired by the instructions of the Catholic Pope, the German order attacked Pskov possessions of Rus' and captured village Izborsk. Pskov was for a long time under siege, and later was finally captured. The reason for this was the betrayal of many Russian residents of this region. IN Novgorodskiy lands, the crusaders built a fortress Koporye . Russian sovereign Alexander Nevskiy, during the battles liberated this fortress. And ultimately, united with Vladimir reinforcements, he returned Pskov to Rus' in a decisive Battle on the Ice April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipsi. The Teutonic troops were defeated. The decisive defeat forced the order to leave the Russian lands.
Ultimately, the Teutonic Order began to weaken and significantly lose its power. The constant influence of the German invaders, aggressive Lithuania And Poland against the order . Polish Army And Principality of Lithuania forced the Teutons to suffer defeat at the Battle of Grunwald July 15, 1410. Half of the army of the Teutonic Order was destroyed, captured, and the main commanders were killed.

Order of Calatrava

Order of Calatrava was the very first knightly and Catholic order of Spain since the 12th century. The order was founded by Cistercian monks in Castile in 1157. And in 1164, the order was officially confirmed by the pope Alexander III. The name itself " Calatrava" originates from the name of the Moorish castle, located in the lands of Castile and held in battle by the king Alfonso VII V 1147. The existing castle was constantly attacked by enemies. At first it was defended by the Templars, and later, at the insistence of Abbot Raymond, monastic knights of peasant origin came to the rescue, led by Diego Velasquez. After constant clashes with enemies, Order of Calatrava, received a new birth in 1157 under the leadership of King Alfonso.
Later, after 1163 years The influence of the order expanded significantly, which made it possible to carry out attack raids. Many knights did not like the new militarization and left the community. New rules were included in the disciplinary routine. Warriors had to go to bed at knight's armor and wear a white cloth, with a cross-shaped flower symbol in the form of a red lily.
The Order of Calatrava organized a number of military campaigns with successful military forays. The king of Castile rewarded the knights, where victorious glory warmed up the warriors to serve Aragon. But after the glorious victories, a streak of defeats followed. Irreconcilable enmity with the Moors from Africa forced the warriors of the order to surrender their positions and the fortress to Calatrava in 1195. After this, the order began to accumulate new forces in a new, built Salvatierre Castle . New warriors were invited there. But in 1211 and this castle fell miserably to the Moors. The Crusade helped return the lost Calatrava to the knights. 1212. Under such pressure, the Moors weakened and their dominance lost significance. The Order of Calatrava, for security reasons, moved its residence to a new location. The distance from the old location was about 8 miles. Under new influence, 2 new orders were organized: Alcantara and Avisa.
In the 13th century, the Order of Calatrava became strong and powerful. In military participation, the community could field a huge number of knights. But further wealth and power made the royal nobility show envy towards him and give rise to new conflicts.

Order of Avis

The appearance is due community Calatravas when former participants at the time of the crusade 1212, for reliability, organized in the new lands, Portuguese Order of Avis for protection from the Moors. In the interests of the kings, the idea arose to keep crusading knights in the service to fight the infidels. The Templars, who previously lived in Portuguese lands, had a huge influence on the Order of Avis. IN 1166 knightly community, was successfully released eastern city Evora. In honor of such a significant event, the sovereign presented the leadership of the order with existing lands. IN XV century, the Royal Council of Portugal, organized a campaign in North Africa. The very first leader of Avis became Pedro Afonso. The Avis Castle was made the main center of the order. Important decisions and spiritual regulations were made here. Ultimately, the knights of the Order of Avis became full landowners with their own colonies. The Portuguese Order gained financial power, which allowed it to control political and economic decisions.

Order of Santiago

Order of Santiago was a Spanish order of knighthood that was formed around 1160. The word "Santiago" was named after the patron saint of Spain. The main task of the order was to protect the pilgrims' road to the chambers of the Apostle James. The order arose in two cities at once, Leon And Cuenca. These 2 urban lands competed with each other, thereby taking the dominant influence into their hands. But after their unification by the Castilian king Ferdinand III, the problem was successfully resolved. The Order was moved to the city of Cuenca.
Unlike other knightly societies and Calatrava, Santiago's routine was much gentler than others. All members of the order had the right to marry. Thanks to this, the Order of Santiago was much larger in the number of its inhabitants and in its proportionate volume. It had 2 cities, more than a hundred villages and 5 monasteries.
The number of troops was 400 horsemen and 1000 foot knights. The Order of Santiago actively participated in battles with Muslims and the Crusades. The charter required newcomers to serve as rowers for a six-month period before joining the ranks of soldiers. All ancestors of a given crusader had to be noble and of noble blood.
The managing leaders of the order were constantly replaced by others. Over the course of several centuries, 40 masters were replaced. All 15th century, was in the championship for the rightful influence over the order.

Order of Saint Lazarus

Order of Saint Lazarus arose in Palestine under the influence of the Crusaders and Hospitallers in 1098. At first, the community was a hospital for visitors. Knights suffering from leprosy were received in her chambers. Later, it turned into a powerful, paramilitary military order. It contained Greek ideology, which was responsible for spiritual decisions. The symbol of Lazarus was a green cross on a white background. This image was painted on coats of arms and on clothes made of light-colored material. At the very beginning of the historical period, the Order of Lazarus was not recognized by the church leadership and was considered to exist unofficially.
"Saint Lazarus"took part in hostilities against Muslims in Jerusalem. This was the period of the Third Crusade in 1187. And in 1244 The Order of Lazarus lost the battle in Forbia which happened 17 October. Such a defeat ended with the expulsion of the knights from Palestine. The order was moved to France, where it began to engage in medical craft.
IN 1517 there was a unification of the community with the Order of St. Mauritius. Despite this, the Order of Lazarus still continued to exist.

Order of Montegaudio

Order of Montegaudio is a Spanish order of chivalry, which was founded by Count Rodrigo Alvarez in 1172. This founder was a member of the Order of Santiago. The name Montegaudio was given by the participants in honor of one hill from which the crusaders discovered Jerusalem. Thus, a fortress was built on this hill, and soon the order itself was formed. IN 1180 the community officially recognized the church leadership and the Catholic pope Alexander III. The symbol of Montegaudio was a red and white cross, which was half painted over. It was worn on all attributes of equipment, including on clothes made of white cloth. All members of the community led an alienated lifestyle. Their life routine was similar to the Cistercians.
IN 1187 Many members of the Order of Montegaudio took part in the bloody battle of Hattin with the Muslim armies. The outcome of the duel ended in the complete defeat of Montegaudio, where most of the knights were killed. The survivors took refuge in Aragon. Here, in 1188, V Teruel city, members of the former knightly community organized a medical hospital Holy Redeemer.
IN 1196, the Order of Montegaudio was disbanded due to a lack of knights to join the ranks. Its former members united with Templars and with Order of Calatrava .

Order of the Sword

Order of the Sword was a German, knightly order with a Catholic ideology, formed in 1202 monk Theodoric. He was also Deputy Bishop Albert Buxhoeveden from Latvia, who preached in Livonia. The order was officially approved Catholic Church V 1210. The main symbolizing design was a red cross drawn on top of a scarlet sword on a white background.
The sword-bearers were subject to the leadership of the bishop. All actions were carried out only with his approval. The entire routine was supported by the Templar charter. The community of the order was divided into knights, priests and servants. The knights were descendants of small feudal lords. Servants were recruited from ordinary townspeople, who became squires, servants, messengers and artisans. master stood at the head of the order, and chapter decided his important matters.
As in all other orders, castles were built and fortified in the occupied territories. Most of the captured lands were transferred to the rule of the order. The rest was handed over to the bishop.
The Order of the Swordsmen was at enmity with Lithuania and the Semigallians. Military campaigns were carried out by both sides against each other. Russian princes often participated on the side of the Lithuanians. IN February 1236 took place crusade against Lithuania, which ended in the complete defeat of the order and the murder master's degree Volguina von Namburg. The remnants of the Swordsmen joined the Teutonic Order May 12, 1237.

Dobrinsky Order

Dobrinsky Order Poland, was organized as a defense against Prussian invasions. Its founders are Polish princes and bishops who wanted to create a prototype of the Teutonic Order. 1222, a significant date of its creation. The symbolism of the community was very similar to the sword bearers. The routine and discipline were exactly like them and the Templar Order.
In the images the same red sword was visible, but only in place of the cross was a scarlet star. It characterized Jesus' appeal to the pagans. The drawing could be seen on all the knightly paraphernalia of this community.
The Order was hiring 1500 German knights for his retinue, who gathered in the Polish city of Dobrynya. At the head " dobrinichi" got up Konrad Mazowiecki.
The glory and exploits of the Dobrin Order were unsuccessful. The community existed for about 20 years and only 1233, in the battle of Sirgun the knights distinguished themselves by winning 1000+ Prussians. Further, the order united with the Teutons, with the favor of the pope. Later, in 1237 Konrad Mazowiecki wanted to reassemble the Order of Dobrin in the Polish castle of Dorogiczyn, but Danil Galitsky broke them. The final cessation of existence occurred in XIV century, when absolutely all the leaders of the order died.

Order of Montesa

Order of Montesa was a Spanish knightly order that was formed in XIV century. It was organized in 1317, in Aragon. He continued the ideology of the Templars and roughly followed the tradition of the Crusaders. The Spanish crown was in great need of protection from the Moors from the south, so it was always glad to receive the support of the followers of the Templars. New decree of the Catholic Pope 1312, who oppressed the rights of the Templars, obliged them to transfer to the ranks of this Order of Montesa at the command of King of Sicily Jaime II.
The order was named after the fortress Saint George in Montes. It was here that he was first educated. IN 1400 there was a merger with the order San Jorge de Alfama, increasing existing force doubled. IN 1587 the kingdom of Spain subjugated Montesa's property and the order began to depend on him. This situation continued until 19th century until all the possessions of the knightly community were confiscated by Spain.

Order of Christ

Order of Christ was a knightly order in Portugal, which continued the craft of the Templars. IN 1318 Portuguese King Danish, officially adopted and established this community. All members of the order received dominant lands and a castle from Pope John Tomar . This stone defense withstood the formidable onslaught of the warring Moors.
IN 1312 The order turned out to be dissolved and for many noble leaders this situation did not suit them. IN 1318 King Danish gathers all the former knights into a new community called "Christ's Militia". The new castle became the habitat Castro Marim in the south of the Algarve. After a turbulent time in combat with the Moors, the knights were again in danger of collapse. Prince Henry turned the order against the rulers of Morocco in order to collect taxes from African products for the restoration of the castle of Tomar.
Many members of the order took part in seafaring voyages, including with Vasca da Gama. The ships' sails bore the symbols of the order, in the form of a large scarlet cross. Some members of the order began to contradict the rules and regulations associated with celibacy. Therefore, Pope Alexander Borzhdu had to make significant changes to the internal regulations of the discipline, in favor of its participants.
King Manuel relied on the constant support of the order and ultimately, such dependence led to the seizure of church property in favor of the state. The final transition of the Order of Christ from ecclesiastical influence to the kingdom took place in 1789.

Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem

Base of this order applies Godfrey of Bouillon. This famous leader led First Crusade, and after graduation, created a community in 1113 with blessings Popes. Godfrey had a great opportunity to take the proposed power into his own hands by ruling the Kingdom of Jerusalem. But the noble character of the knight chose the path of renouncing the throne, choosing at the same time the status of the main defender of the Holy Sepulcher.
the main objective of all members of the order, was to protect Christian pilgrims from aggressive foreigners and spread the faith in the earthen districts of Palestine. Many of the pilgrims eventually decided to join the knightly community. Replenishment of the ranks of sacred warriors could be carried out by mercenaries from Palestine.
IN 1496 Order of the Holy Sepulcher of the Lord of Jerusalem was moved from Jerusalem V Rome. This position contributed to leading the community Pope Alexander IV as Grand Master.

Order of St. George

Order of St. George- this is a knightly order Hungary created by the king Karl Robert in 1326. The reason for the creation of such an order was to strengthen the position of the king, which was under threat from the Hungarian aristocracy. The whole mess escalated into armed confrontation between the true sovereign and the barons. In this fight Carl Robert I had to steadfastly adhere to my titular position, which was encroached upon by outside nobility. Many nobles supported the king and his views.
The knight's tournament served as a demonstration event marking the official beginning of the opening of the order. The number of knights of St. George did not exceed 50. They took an oath to serve faithfully to their king, protect the church craft from heretics and pagans, and also protect the weak from vile enemies and invaders. New warriors were accepted only with the agreement of all members of the community. The Order, unlike many, did not have a Grand Master. But St. George had a chancellor, as well as a secular and spiritual judge.
The symbol of the order was a red shield with a white double cross on it.

Spiritual knightly (or, as they are sometimes called, military monastic) orders appeared immediately after the start of the Crusades. Their appearance is as unusual and mysterious as the Crusades themselves. If we take into account the enormous role they played in the struggle for the Holy Land, as well as their subsequent glorious, equally tragic fate, then we can say with confidence that we are now touching on one of the most interesting and mysterious pages in the history of chivalry.

If in the Middle Ages chivalry was indeed perceived as the path to Salvation, then, probably, in no other knightly institution was this idea expressed as clearly as in this one. A knight who took three monastic vows became a member of the spiritual-knightly order: non-covetousness, obedience and chastity. Upon joining the order, knights often made rich contributions to it. They were forbidden to have wives, and they also had to submit to strict military discipline. All this together really turned the life of the members of the order brotherhood into a real, harsh feat.

However, in addition to spiritual knightly orders in the history of chivalry, there were other order-type formations. In general, knightly orders can be divided into three categories:

spiritual knightly orders, which operated for the most part during the Crusades (the most important of them are the Order of the Templars, the Order of the St. John the Hospitallers, the Teutonic Order, etc.);

honorary orders of knighthood, which were completely secular in nature and aimed at rewarding personal merit, and not any special activity (Order of the Garter, Order of the Golden Fleece, etc.);

fictitious and legendary orders of knighthood, known only in literature (for example, the Order of King Arthur, known as the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Round Table).

The history of honorary secular orders forms an important part of knightly culture. Their heyday occurred in the 14th-15th centuries, when the process of general secularization began to gain momentum in Europe. If spiritual knightly orders were subordinate to the Pope, then honorary orders were usually headed by a king or duke and served as a tool for strengthening their personal power as opposed to the power of the pope. Secular orders are a very interesting topic that directly relates to the history of chivalry, but its consideration lies beyond the scope of the Apology.

A little from the history of spiritual knightly orders

After the First Crusade, when the Crusaders managed to recapture Antioch and Jerusalem, there was a need for constant protection of the new Latin states formed in the East from the Arabs and Turks. Two knightly orders devoted themselves to this goal - the defense of the Holy Land: the Order of the Templars and the Order of the Hospitallers. Below is Short story these two orders, as well as the history of the Teutonic Order - as the third most powerful and famous knightly order, the history of which affects, in particular, the history of Ancient Rus'.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE THREE MOST FAMOUS SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN ORDERS

Ÿ Order of the Knights Templar. Founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims traveling through Palestine, but a few years later the order began military operations in Palestine against Muslims. The headquarters of the order is located in Jerusalem, near former temple Solomon. This is where the name of the order comes from - the Templars, or Templars ( le temple, fr. - temple). In 1129 the order received recognition at church cathedral in Troyes. Pope Honorius II approves the order's charter. The order's active military activity began both in Palestine and in other theaters of military operations, for example, in Spain (from 1143). The Order receives assistance from the most different countries Europe, has numerous branches in Europe, owns land, and conducts financial transactions. In 1307, by order of the French king Philip IV the Fair, all the Knights Templar were arrested in France in one night. After the trial of the Templars in 1312, the order was liquidated by decree of Pope Clement V. In 1314, the last Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in Paris.

Ÿ Order of St. John the Hospitallers. The Brotherhood of St. John was founded even before the First Crusade at the hospital of St. John the Merciful in Jerusalem (hence the name of the order). The goal of the brotherhood was to help poor and sick pilgrims. It has a wide network of shelters and hospitals both in the East and in Europe. After the First Crusade, it also took on the functions of military defense of the Latin states from the “infidels”. The headquarters is located in Jerusalem. After the loss of Jerusalem and the ousting of the Crusaders from Palestine, the Hospitallers established their headquarters on Fr. Rhodes (since 1311). In 1522 the Turks besieged and captured the island. Rhodes. Hospitallers leave Fr. Rhodes. In 1530, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V granted Fr. Malta near Sicily. The Order receives a new name - the Order of Malta. The Hospitallers build a powerful fleet and actively participate in naval operations against the Turks in the Mediterranean. In 1792, during the revolution in France, the property of the order was confiscated. In 1798, French troops led by Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta and expelled the Hospitallers from there. The Order of Malta is taken under the patronage of Paul I, who establishes the Maltese Cross as its highest award. Russian Empire. After the death of Paul I in 1801, the order lost its patronage in Russia, and from 1834 it acquired a permanent residence in Rome. Currently, members of the order are engaged in providing medical and other assistance to the sick and wounded.

Ÿ Warband. He grew up from a fraternity at a German hospital. The founding date of the order is considered to be 1199. In 1225, the Teutonic Order was invited to Prussia, where its headquarters were moved. In 1229, the order began the conquest of Prussia, and since then this task has become the main one in its activities. The reception of knights is carried out mainly only from German lands. In 1237, the Teutonic Order united with the Order of the Sword, after which the conquest of Livonia also began. In 1242, the order was defeated on Lake Peipsi by Alexander Nevsky. In 1245, the order received permission to conduct a “continuous” Crusade in Prussia. In 1309, the order moved its headquarters to Prussia, to the city of Marienburg. In 1410, the troops of the Teutonic Order were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald by the combined forces of Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs and Russians. In 1466, at the conclusion of the Peace of Torun, the Teutonic Order recognized itself as a vassal of the Kingdom of Poland. In 1525, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Albrecht of Brandenburg converted to Lutheranism, and the secular state of Prussia was formed in the territories of the order.

In addition to the orders listed above, which are best known to the modern reader, other, less well-known military monastic orders also arose in Europe. Here's one example. Few people know that in addition to the Order of the Sword, founded in 1202 in Livonia with the support of Bishop Albert, at the same time there was also the Order of Dobrin, founded in 1228 in Prussia on the initiative of Bishop Christian of Prussia and the Polish prince Konrad of Mazovia. Subsequently, in the 1230s. The Dobrin Order, like the Order of the Sword Bearers, became part of the Teutonic Order. And many such examples can be given. In Spain alone in the 12th century. six military monastic orders were established - the Order of Calatrava (1158), the Order of Santiago (1170), the Order of Montegaudio (c. 1173), the Orders of Avish and Alcantara (c. 1176) and the Order of San Jorge de Alfama (c. 1200) ). Who among my readers knows or has heard anything about them?

However, among all this many orders, only two orders had international status - the Order of the Templars and the Order of the Hospitallers. The rest were purely national orders - for example, the Teutonic Order was purely German. That is why the history of these two orders is especially interesting. Although the history of spiritual knightly orders, of course, is not limited to them - this is a whole and very extensive page in the history of the Middle Ages.

Why and how spiritual knightly orders arose

The emergence of spiritual knightly orders is considered one of the mysteries of Medieval history. Here is what the British historian Alan Forey writes about this:

The sources that have reached us do not explain the reasons for the transformation of monastic and charitable organizations into military monastic orders. Apparently the example was provided by the Templars, but it is unclear why it was followed. In some cases, actions are traced specific persons: so, the militarization of the society of St. Thomas of Acre can be attributed to the initiative of the Bishop of Winchester, Peter de Roche, who came to the East at a time when the monastery of the black clergy was in a state of decline. But there could be other reasons. In particular, among the members of these organizations (except St. Thomas of Acre) there were probably people capable of holding weapons in their hands, and it is quite possible that they were turned to for military assistance due to the constant lack of military strength among the settlers in the Holy Land.

However, this mystery is of the same nature as the entire Crusader movement as a whole. If you understand the idea and the very spirit of the Crusades, as well as all chivalry in general, then the emergence of spiritual knightly orders becomes a completely understandable and explainable phenomenon. The orders became the highest embodiment of the idea of ​​knightly piety - the combination of religiosity and Christian piety with military valor and the desire for worldly glory. For the bulk of knighthood, participation in the Crusades was a relatively rare occurrence. For members of spiritual knightly orders, this participation was a constant and continuous action, which constituted the entire essence and meaning of their activities.

It must be said that the idea of ​​a spiritual knightly order did not immediately gain recognition. She had her opponents, who usually opposed the idea of ​​the Crusades themselves as a whole. And in the order itself, not everyone was confident in the legitimacy, that is, the legality of the order’s activities. The severity of the controversy can be judged from the book of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who outlined his arguments for the defense of spiritual knightly orders in the essay “De laude novae militae”. Despite all the objections and doubts, the order quickly gained support in church circles, which was reflected at the church council in Troyes, where the order received legitimate status. Pope Honorius II personally approved the order's charter, after which this charter became a model for all other Western European orders.

The spiritual knightly orders were the vanguard and the most reliable support of the Crusader movement. It should be noted that in general the knightly army was not very disciplined. There were frequent cases of insubordination and violation of military discipline, including on the battlefield. For members of the order this was an unacceptable phenomenon. Alan Forey continues elsewhere:

Despite the fact that there were relatively few knight-monks, they were respected even by their opponents (especially in the East) for their bravery. The brothers were a force more disciplined and organized than many secular military units. The Templars followed strict rules of behavior in camp and on the march, and, of course, the brothers of all orders were bound by a vow of obedience, the violation of which threatened with severe punishment. The punishment for desertion in battle was exclusion from the orders, and in the Templar Order, for attacking without permission, the offenders were suspended from the life of the order for a certain period. Of course, the threat of punishment could not eliminate all cases of disobedience, but many researchers of the crusader movement share the point of view of the Grand Master of the Templar Order, Jacques Bernard de Molay (), who believed that the Templars, thanks to their vow of obedience, were superior to other troops. Some scientists see the advantage of knightly orders in the East also in the fact that they, being constantly there, had extensive experience in local warfare, in contrast to the crusaders arriving from the West.

In the East, the Templars and Hospitallers, of course, were respected for their bravery, but at the same time they were fiercely hated. If the Arabs managed to capture the crusaders, they were ready to release them in exchange for a ransom or other captured Arabs. But if they fell into the hands of the Templars or Hospitallers, they were all mercilessly given the death penalty.

Destruction of the Templar Order

Of the two most important orders in Europe, the Order of the Hospitallers has the longest history. The Order of the Hospitallers was liquidated on the initiative of the French king Philip IV the Fair and with the blessing of Pope Clement V at the beginning of the 13th century. Here's what Alan Forey writes about this story:

In October 1307 (then the order's headquarters were in Cyprus), the Templars in France were unexpectedly arrested by order of King Philip IV. They were accused of forcing candidates to renounce Christ, spit on the cross, and behave indecently during entrance ceremonies; In addition, they were charged with sodomy and idolatry. Pope Clement V initially protested against Philip's actions, but after Templar Master Jacques de Molay and other Templars acknowledged the most serious charges, he ordered all Western European rulers to arrest members of the order and confiscate their property. And only in the Kingdom of Aragon did the executors of the papal order encounter difficulties: the Templars there took refuge in their castles and put up resistance (several castles managed to hold out for more than a year).

At the beginning of 1308, the investigation into the affairs of the order was suspended due to friction between the pope and King Philip, but by 1311 the Inquisition became involved. As a result, in France and in some areas of Italy, the majority of the Templars recognized the charges as fair, the Parisian parliament recognized their guilt as proven, and the knights accused of heresy, along with their Grand Master Jacques de Molay, were condemned to death and burned at the stake. However, in Cyprus, the Kingdom of Aragon, Castile and Portugal, no confessions could be extracted from the Templars, and in England only three Templars admitted to what they were accused of. The fate of the order was finally decided at the Council of Vienne, convened at the end of 1311. The Templars who arrived at the council, who wanted to speak in defense of their order, were not given a word, despite the fact that many prelates wanted to listen to them. On March 22, 1312, two days after King Philip arrived at the council, Clement announced the abolition of the order.

The trial of the Templars and the serious charges brought against them caused heavy damage to the Crusader movement. After this, the Crusades clearly began to decline, although even before this previous burning, the liberation of the Holy Land from Muslims in Europe was no longer observed. The trial of the Templars was important because they were the first knight-monks in history. All other spiritual knightly orders were equal to the charter of the Templar Order. In view of this, this order could be called Order No. 1. The liquidation of the Templar Order largely shook faith in the very idea of ​​​​the Crusades and the mission that a united Christian Europe carried out in the East. The weakening of this faith has become one of the reasons for the intensification of the processes of secularization in the West.

What happened? Did the Templars really apostatize from Christ and thereby, in the eyes of the entire Christian world, become criminals and traitors to the cause that they led? Alan Forey continues:

Since the very time of the trial of the Templars, disputes have not stopped about how justified the charges brought against them were and why Philip IV decided to destroy the order. It is difficult to believe that the Templars were really guilty of all the crimes of which they were accused. After all, even in France, where the Templars were captured completely unexpectedly, no material evidence was found - neither idols, nor texts of secret charters. Moreover, the confessions of the accused are not credible - they are inconsistent, unconvincing, none of the knights even tried to explain or justify the actions of which they were accused. It seems that the Templars admitted to something they were not guilty of, that is, they were laying false accusations against themselves. Some of them later renounced their words and repented, but this did not help anyone, and they were still burned as having fallen into heresy for the second time. If the order had really fallen into heresy, and even long before the arrest of its members, it would hardly have gone unnoticed. It should also be borne in mind that the accusations brought against the Templars were not original - previously supporters of various heresies and Muslims were accused of the same thing. In addition, confessions were wrested from the Templars under cruel torture, which the medieval Inquisition mastered to perfection.

Well, maybe so. In any case, researchers in most cases are inclined to think that the Templar Order was defeated completely in vain. They explain the actions of Philip IV simply by his desire to take possession of the property and financial resources of the order. In addition, the order was directly subordinate to the Pope, and the French king was clearly undesirable of such a powerful paramilitary papal organization on his territory. However, not everything was so simple. The same Alan Faury notes that accusing the order of heresy was not the best or most convenient way for the French king to solve these problems. After all, the trial of the order would belong in this case to the pope. Most likely, Philip IV actually believed the rumors circulating about the order, and therefore decided to take such a radical step as arresting all the Knights Templar in one night.

When talking about the Templars, we should not forget that many of them came from aristocratic families in Provence and Languedoc - the southern regions of France. And this was precisely the reason for their great sympathy for the Cathars who settled in Languedoc and the county of Toulouse. When the French King Philip II Augustus began the First Albigensian War with the blessing of Pope Innocent III, the Knights Templar officially took a neutral position in the conflict. In response to calls from Innocent III to join the French troops, the Templars stated that they did not consider this invasion of the County of Toulouse a “real” Crusade and therefore did not intend to participate in it. Unofficially, the order's commanderies located in Languedoc gave refuge to the Cathars and even protected them from the crusaders. Moreover, in 1213, the Templars took part in the Battle of Murat, fighting on the side of the Cathars.

The Cathars saw the Templars as their protectors and the only way your salvation. It is not surprising, therefore, that they began to join the ranks of the order in droves. Moreover, high-born Cathars began to occupy leadership positions in the southern French order communities and even become members of the order's highest board. It is here that we must look, apparently, for the reasons for the difficult to explain rite of renunciation of Christ, when the newly initiated had to spit on the cross. This was due to the teachings of the Cathars, who, denying the Divine essence of Christ and recognizing him as just a divinely inspired prophet, considered the cross not an object of worship, but simply an instrument of execution. They also denied the worship of icons, considering it idolatry.

Apparently, by the beginning of the 13th century, heresy had already taken very deep roots in the order. And the French king saw in the Templars the same opponents with whom his ancestor, Philip II Augustus, fought. Moreover, the Templars had incomparably greater power than the Count of Toulouse - huge financial resources were concentrated in their hands. The Order was actively involved in financial and banking operations throughout Europe and parts of the East. Under these conditions, the Templars could already pose a pan-European threat, which the French king opposed. However, apparently not all Templars were involved in heresy. It was mainly the French knights, led by their master Jacques de Male, who confessed to apostasy from Christ. The Templars in other countries - in Cyprus, in the Kingdom of Aragon, Castile, Portugal and even in England (with the exception of three Templars) - did not want to admit anything like that. Consequently, the order could still be preserved somehow. But the Inquisition did not look into the details - the order was liquidated, and Jacques de Molay was burned at the stake in 1314.

Further history of spiritual knightly orders

Despite the liquidation of the Templar Order, other spiritual knightly orders continue their active military activities. At the same time that the Templars were being tried in France, the Hospitallers, driven out of Palestine, moved their headquarters to Fr. Rhodes (1311). From this time begins a two-hundred-year period of their active military operations in defense of the island. With the loss of Rhodes (1522), the headquarters of the order was moved to the island. Malta, after which the order received the name Maltese. All this time, right up to the 18th century, the Order of the Hospitallers continued to remain a powerful and very active military organization. Moreover, it is the main military outpost in the fight Christian states with the Ottoman Empire. The ranks of the Hospitallers are experienced, battle-hardened warriors. The Order has a powerful military fleet, which conducts active combat operations against the Turks throughout the Mediterranean.

This vitality of the order cannot but surprise the historian. While the Teutonic Order and the Spanish spiritual-knightly orders underwent radical transformations in the 16th century, the Hospitallers not only formally retained their charter, but in fact continued the traditions of the Crusader movement. I do not have the opportunity to describe the entire history of the Order of Malta, although it is very interesting and multifaceted. I will touch only on the history that connects the Order of Malta with the history of Russia and the name of Emperor Paul I. Here is how the British historian Anthony Luttrell describes the last years of active activity of the Order of Malta in the Mediterranean:

The Age of Enlightenment and the emergence of Freemasonry also influenced the Order of Malta. These new trends increased the knights' dissatisfaction with the old regime. The masters increasingly quarreled with bishops, papal inquisitors and representatives of the Maltese population and clergy. The well-managed estates and forests of the three French provinces supplied half of the order's foreign income, which ensured the French first places in the administration. As the order's military functions dwindled to zero and its income dwindled, the order tried to take desperate measures - alliances with the Americans, Russians or British, the founding of an Ethiopian company, the creation of a Polish priory, the purchase of estates in Canada, the acquisition of Corsica; in 1651 the order bought three islands in the Caribbean, but had to sell them already in 1665.

In 1775, a rebellion broke out in Malta led by the local Maltese clergy, which was supported by the rural population, driven into poverty by misrule. Grand Master Rogan () made every effort to raise the faded military spirit in the order, improve the administration and court, and increase income. In 1776 he last time convened the highest legislative institution of the order - the General Chapter, which in 1779 issued the code of laws of the Order of Malta. But Rogan's efforts were in vain. In 1792, the French National Assembly confiscated the French property of the order, and on June 12, 1798, Malta surrendered to Napoleon without a fight. Of the three hundred and thirty brothers who were then on the island, two hundred were French, and many of them were ready to resist, but the Spanish Hospitallers refused to fight, there was no firm military leadership, and the master was afraid to take any decisive measures, fearing popular unrest.

After the surrender of the island, the knights accused Master Ferdinand von Gompesch of treason and removed him from office. On December 16 of the same year, the Russian Emperor Paul was elected Grand Master, and the seat of the order (convention) was moved to St. Petersburg, after which the fleet began to be equipped in Kronstadt to return Malta. However, after the death of Paul, Alexander I renounced the title of Grand Master, and then completely abolished the order on Russian soil. Gradually, the order began to lose its lands in other countries, and in 1834 the chapter of the order was moved to Rome. Since then, the fate of the Order of Malta has been closely connected with the history of the papal throne.

With the loss of Fr. The history of the Crusading movement actually ends with the Hospitallers of Malta. The Crusades are becoming a thing of the past along with the Ancien Regime - the European system of royal rule - which the French Revolution was aimed at destroying. It is symbolic that the Hospitallers from Malta are expelled not by anyone, but by Napoleon Bonaparte, the future French emperor, who ruled relying not on the nobility and clergy, but on completely new national structures created during the French Revolution (bureaucracy, bourgeoisie, military, etc.).

Anthony Luttrell briefly mentions Freemasonry in the above passage in connection with the history of the Order of Malta. This allows us to move on to the next chapter, where the next question will be asked: what is Freemasonry and how is it related to chivalry? And another, private question: weren’t the Knights of Malta specifically Masons, and wasn’t Paul I himself a Mason?

History of the Crusades. – M.: KRON-PRESS, 1998. – P. 219-220

History of the Crusades. – M.: KRON-PRESS, 1998. – P. 230-231

History of the Crusades. – M.: KRON-PRESS, 1998. – P. 249

Albigensian Cathars - participants in the heretical movement in southern France in the 12th-13th centuries. The Cathars were suspected of teaching dualism (the world is an arena for the struggle of two equal principles - good and evil, the god of light and the god of darkness), rejection of the dogmas of the Holy Trinity, the Resurrection of Christ, the Sacraments of Communion and marriage. This doctrine was a variant of the Manichaean heresy, which penetrated into France from the East. One of the centers of the Cathars in France was the city of Albi, where the name of the sect comes from. By the beginning of the 13th century, heresy had captured almost the entire south of France - from simple artisans and peasants to the highest aristocracy. For example, Count Raymond IV of Toulouse openly patronized heretics. The Cathar heresy was completely eradicated in France during the Albigensian Wars ().

History of the Crusades. – M.: KRON-PRESS, 1998. – P. 404-406

Medieval European papacy after separation from the Byzantine Orthodox Church repeatedly undertook crusades and other military campaigns to gain influence, lands and power. Special attention was devoted to the Catholicization of Protestant and Orthodox countries. Despite the fact that the spiritual-knightly orders suffered a complete failure in fulfilling their initial tasks, some of them exist to this day, supporting historical and cultural traditions and directing their forces to humanitarian missions.

Warband

Founded out of a military hospital near Acre in 1190, the Teutonic Order was originally the German branch of the Johannite Hospitallers. Subsequently, it developed into an independent organization. The main structural difference between the Teutonic Order and other orders was that absolute power was not concentrated in the hands of the Grand Master, a large number of rights and duties were assigned to the General Chapter. The hierarchy of the order was more structured than in other knightly organizations. The name of the Teutonic Order is well-known among Russians who are more or less familiar with their own history - it was the Teutons on Lake Peipus who received a devastating defeat from the squad of the legendary Russian prince Alexander Nevsky when trying to conquer the northern part of the Russian state. The order has many military campaigns under its belt; in fact, they abolished their humanitarian mission in favor of developing army power. The Order actively spread to the east of Europe: the Teutons offered their military force in exchange for the Catholicization of the principalities, thanks to which papal power was getting closer and closer to Rus'. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Lithuanians, together with the Smolensk and Poles, literally crushed the military campaign of the Teutons, killing the head of the order. Having lost its former power, the Teutonic Order was ousted from Western Europe Protestants. In 1809 it was officially abolished. After several attempts to reorganize and restore the order, today it exists as a humanitarian organization uniting nuns. Interestingly, the Nazi Reich considered itself to be the continuator of the work of the Teutonic Order, especially with regard to the military advance to the east of Europe.

Templars

At the beginning of the 12th century, immediately after the First Crusade, the most famous Templar order, overgrown with the most incredible myths, was founded in the Holy Land. Initially, it consisted of only 8 knights, and their task was to protect pilgrims on their way to the Christian shrines of Jerusalem. Returning to their homeland, the Templars recruited many knights to serve in the order, and the richest feudal lords in Europe gave them generous donations. The knights honestly fulfilled their Christian mission for about a century, then the order experienced gradual degeneration. The Knights Templar began to engage in trade and usury. They established the world's first unique prototype of a modern bank, charging money for the service of storing and sending valuables and sums of money. The Templars became the richest organization ever to exist. To this day, many historians and adventurers seek the legendary treasures of the Templars. However, money and great influence corrupted the knights, de facto turning them into a gang of armed warriors. Some evidence speaks of Satan worship and the use of magic by the Templars. The clergy turned a blind eye to their crimes, and the secular authorities were afraid of their reputation and power. Officially, the order was abolished by the Pope in 1312, but several years before that the Templars were subjected to severe persecution and execution.

Hospitallers

At the end of the 11th century, a hospital was founded in the Holy Land to help and treat Christian pilgrims and provide escorts to ensure the safety of travelers. After the Muslims finally settled in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers were forced to cede their possessions. They wandered for a long time in search of a successful and safe place for your residence. IN different years They settled, built castles and developed administrative systems in Tripoli, Cyprus, Rhodes, Halicarnassus, until they finally settled on Malta in the 15th century. To this day, the residence of the Hospitallers is located there, and their order is the oldest currently active. Along with the name “Hospitaliers” there is also the name “Ioannites”. Today's mission of the Knights Hospitaller is humanitarian, educational and charitable in nature. Their legal status on the world stage: they are de facto a state without territory. The official name of today's organization is the Order of Malta. It has many signs of statehood and is even officially represented in the UN. Multiple diplomatic missions around the world are similar to embassies and diplomatic missions of states, and at the head of this organization is the Grand Master, who serves as the acting ruler of the organization.

Swordtails

At the dawn of the 13th century, the Order of the Sword Bearers was formed in East Prussia. In fact, it was part of a military strategy to conquer and Catholicize Eastern European lands. The Order was guided by the system and regulations of the Templars, with the only difference being that they were subordinate not directly to the pope, but to the bishop. The order existed for just over 30 years, after which it completely merged with the Teutonic Order. The Sword Bearers managed to write themselves into the history of Rus'. Several times they unsuccessfully tried to conquer the Novgorod lands, after which they undertook a campaign to the places where modern Tallinn is located - it was they who founded the Revel fortress, which became the beginning of the future Estonian capital. Subsequently, they had several more unsuccessful campaigns against Russian lands, although the Swordsmen threw their main forces against the Balts and Lithuanians. Having declared a Crusade against Lithuania, the Swordsmen suffered the most devastating defeat in their history, and their Grand Master also died. After the loss, their remnants were annexed to the Teutons.

Spiritual knightly or, as they are sometimes called, military monastic orders appeared immediately after the start of the Crusades. Their appearance is as unusual and mysterious as the Crusades themselves. If we take into account the enormous role they played in the struggle for the Holy Land, as well as their subsequent glorious, equally tragic fate, then we can say with confidence that we are now touching on one of the most interesting and mysterious topics in the history of medieval Europe .

If in the Middle Ages chivalry was indeed perceived as the path to Salvation, then, probably, in no other knightly institution was this idea expressed as clearly as in this one. A knight who took three monastic vows became a member of the spiritual-knightly order: non-covetousness, obedience and chastity. Upon joining the order, knights often made rich contributions to it. They were forbidden to have wives, and they also had to submit to strict military discipline. All this together really turned the life of the members of the order brotherhood into a real, harsh feat.

However, in addition to spiritual knightly orders in the history of chivalry, there were other order-type formations. In general, knightly orders can be divided into three categories:

1. spiritual knightly orders, which operated for the most part during the Crusades, the most important of them being the Order of the Templars, the Order of the St. John the Hospitallers, the Teutonic Order, etc.;

2. honorary orders of knighthood, which were completely secular in nature and aimed at rewarding personal merit, and not any special activity - the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Golden Fleece and others;

3. fictional and legendary orders of knighthood, known only in literature, for example, the Order of King Arthur, known as the brotherhood of the Knights of the Round Table.

The history of honorary secular orders forms an important part of knightly culture. Their heyday occurred in the 14th-15th centuries, when the process of general secularization began to gain momentum in Europe. If spiritual knightly orders were subordinate to the Pope, then honorary orders were usually headed by a king or duke and served as a tool for strengthening their personal power as opposed to the power of the pope. Secular orders are a very interesting topic that directly relates to the history of chivalry, but its consideration lies beyond the scope of the Apology.

After the First Crusade, when the Crusaders managed to recapture Antioch and Jerusalem, there was a need for constant protection of the new Latin states formed in the East from the Arabs and Turks. Two knightly orders devoted themselves to this goal - the defense of the Holy Land: the Order of the Templars and the Order of the Hospitallers. Below is a brief history of these two orders, as well as the history of the Teutonic Order - as the third most powerful and famous knightly order, the history of which affects, in particular, the history of Ancient Rus'.

Order of the Knights Templar. Founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims traveling through Palestine, but a few years later the order began military operations in Palestine against Muslims. The headquarters of the order is located in Jerusalem, near the former Temple of Solomon. This is where the name of the order comes from - the Templars, or Templars. (le temple, fr. - temple). In 1129, the order received recognition at a church council in Troyes. Pope Honorius II approves the order's charter. The order's active military activity began, both in Palestine and in other theaters of war, for example, in Spain in 1143. The Order receives assistance from various European countries, has numerous branches in Europe, owns lands, and conducts financial transactions. In 1307, by order of the French king Philip IV the Fair, all the Knights Templar were arrested in France in one night. After the trial of the Templars in 1312, the order was liquidated by decree of Pope Clement V. In 1314, the last Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in Paris.

Order of St. John the Hospitallers. The Brotherhood of St. John was founded even before the First Crusade at the hospital of St. John the Merciful in Jerusalem, hence the name of the order. The goal of the brotherhood was to help poor and sick pilgrims. It has a wide network of shelters and hospitals, both in the East and in Europe. After the First Crusade, it also took on the functions of military defense of the Latin states from the “infidels”. The headquarters is located in Jerusalem. After the loss of Jerusalem and the displacement of the Crusaders from Palestine, the Hospitallers founded headquarters on o. Rhodes since 1311

In 1522 the Turks besieged and captured the island. Rhodes. Hospitallers leave Fr. Rhodes. In 1530, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V provided the Hospitallers with Fr. Malta near Sicily. The order receives a new name - the Order of Malta. The Hospitallers build a powerful fleet and actively participate in naval operations against the Turks in the Mediterranean.

In 1792, during the revolution in France, the property of the order was confiscated. In 1798, French troops led by Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta and expelled the Hospitallers from there. The Order of Malta is taken under the patronage of Paul I, who establishes the Maltese Cross - the highest award of the Russian Empire. After the death of Paul I in 1801, the order lost its patronage in Russia, and from 1834 it acquired a permanent residence in Rome. Currently, members of the order are engaged in providing medical and other assistance to the sick and wounded.

Warband. He grew up from a fraternity at a German hospital. The founding date of the order is considered to be 1199. In 1225, the Teutonic Order was invited to Prussia, where its headquarters were moved. In 1229, the order began the conquest of Prussia, and since then this task has become the main one in its activities.

The reception of knights is carried out mainly only from German lands. In 1237, the Teutonic Order united with the Order of the Sword, after which the conquest of Livonia also began. In 1242, the order was defeated on Lake Peipsi by Alexander Nevsky. In 1245, the order received permission to conduct a “continuous” Crusade in Prussia. In 1309, the order moved its headquarters to Prussia in the city of Marienburg. In 1410, the troops of the Teutonic Order were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald by the combined forces of Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs and Russians. In 1466, at the conclusion of the Peace of Torun, the Teutonic Order recognized itself as a vassal of the Kingdom of Poland.

Thus, in the XI - XIII centuries. The Catholic Church organized the crusades, the goal of which was the liberation of Palestine and the “Holy Sepulcher” from Muslims, which, according to legend, was located in Jerusalem. The true goal of the campaigns was to seize lands and plunder the eastern countries, the wealth of which was much talked about in Europe at that time.

As a result of military campaigns in the armies of the crusaders, with the blessing of the Pope, special monastic-knightly organizations were created - spiritual-knightly orders. Upon entering the order, the knight remained a warrior, but took the usual vow of monasticism: he could not have a family. From that time on, he unquestioningly obeyed the head of the order - the grandmaster, or grand master. The orders were subordinate directly to the pope, and not to the rulers on whose lands their possessions were located.

Having captured vast territories in the East, the orders launched extensive activities in the “holy land”. The knights enslaved the peasants, both local and those who came with them from Europe. By robbing cities and villages, engaging in usury, and exploiting the local population, the orders accumulated enormous wealth. Large estates in Europe were bought with the stolen gold. Gradually the orders turned into the richest corporations. Soon the Knights Templar became the richest order.

Going on a crusade, large feudal lords and knights often pledged their lands and other property in the European offices of the order. Fearing robbery on the way, they only took a receipt in order to receive the money upon arrival in Jerusalem. So the Templars became not only moneylenders, but also organizers of banking. And it brought them enormous wealth: after all, many crusaders died on the way, not having time to reach Jerusalem...

Aspects about the detailed history of the creation of spiritual knightly orders and their role in the history of medieval Europe will be covered and discussed in more detail in the second chapter of our diploma project.