A Brief History of Chivalry

The first Orders of Chivalry were formed during the 11th Century. The first of these was the Military Order of Malta. From this Order, others were formed such as the Order of Saint John (Knights Hospitaller) in 1080, the Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Knights Templar) in 1119, the Order of Saint Lazarus in 1100, and the Order of Saint Mary’s Hospital in Jerusalem (Teutonic Knights) in 1190.

These orders were groups of Knights who banded together to create their own fraternal organization. These organizations were either sponsored by the Monarch of their home countries, or by the Pope (who is a sovereign power of himself). Each member of their organizations typically took vows and in essence became warrior monks. Their warrior nature (because they were all Knights their profession was war) gave the Pope an opportunity to use them as the military arm of the Church. Each one of them had a different charter, or reason for being in existence. For example, the Knights Templar were the guardians of pilgrims going to the holy land. These Templar Knights set up safe houses for pilgrims to seek shelter and safety within. The Templars also protected the pilgrims by setting up the first banking system. Instead of attracting bandits in search of stealing from the pilgrims, the Templars took the money from the pilgrims and gave them a note for how much the Templars were holding for them. Once at their destination, the Templars would give the money back to the pilgrim who gave their money to the Templars.

These Orders of Chivalry, acting as an arm of the Church, received donations. After time, the Orders of Chivalry became wealthy organizations. So large was the wealth and power of these Orders, Monarchs were threatened by them. The power and wealth of the Orders allowed them to gain lands of their own, giving them the ability to legitimately call themselves Sovereign. Monastic Orders like the Knights Templar were given special privileges so they only answered to the Pope and need not answer to any Monarch in whatever land they resided.

In 1291, when the last stronghold of Christendom fell to the Arabs, the missions of the Orders of Chivalry became obsolete. They now had neither hospitals to run, pilgrims to protect, or missions to achieve. Some Orders, like the Teutonic Knights, survived because they had already settled in eastern Europe. Others, like the Knights Hospitaller, conquered Malta and became a naval power and continued to wage war against the Arabs and later the Turks. Yet others, like the Knights Templar, tried to make a transition to become bankers (they also tried to merge with the Order of Saint John). However, because of their wealth, the French Monarchy falsely accused them of heresy and successfully disbanded the Order in 1312 (the way the King did this is how Friday the 13th became an unlucky day).

This did not last indefinitely, however. The Order of Saint John (Order of Malta) lost its sovereignty in 1798 and is now dedicated to medical and charitable activities. The Teutonic Order became a simple religious order in 1929. The Order of Saint Lazarus split into two factions which have now reunited.

Codes of Chivalry

Many different codes of chivalry have been set down; most contain the following eight issues:

1. A knight shall defend the Church.
2. A knight shall respect all weaknesses and shall constitute himself the defender of the weak.
3. A knight shall love the country in which he was born.
4. A knight shall not recoil before his enemy.
5. A knight shall perform scrupulously his feudal duties, if they are not contrary to the laws of God and the Orthodox church.
6. A knight shall never lie, and shall remain faithful to his pledged word.
7. A knight shall be generous and give largess to everyone.
8. A knight shall be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

A Brief History of Emperor Constantine

It is believed that chivalry began with the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. The Emperor faced a battle with Manentius. On October 28, 312 A.D., just before the battle he had a divinely inspired vision of a flaming cross in the heavens with an inscription in hoc signo vinces (in this sign you will conquer). Subsequently, he had a new imperial standard made in this design as it was carried into battle and guarded by fifty elite solders called the Praepositi Laberorum. Constantine was victorious under this sign, and the first Christian empire of Byzantium was founded. The fifty warriors were organized into a Sacred Knightly Guard, called Torquati (Golden Knights) and Perfectissimi (Most Perfect Knights). Thus, it is believed, was formed the first knightly or chivalric order.

The idea of knighthood and chivalry particularly flourished after the first millennium as part of the development of feudal states. It grew into a contract between the Lord of an area and chosen trained warriors. In this mutually beneficial contract the knight acquired status and land in return for service to his lord. These services included military support as well as service as police and social worker for the local area. The basic ethical code of chivalry stressed justice and care for the needy and the defenseless. Services to a local lord and to the church grew up at the same time. The Crusades began as church related orders simply protected and cared for pilgrims to the Holy Land. These orders later on also became involved in major wars surrounding the Holy Land.

The Historic Orthodox Christian Chivalric Ideal

There was always a chivalric idealistic element in knighthood. Today, there are more orders, knights and dames than there ever had been in the past. This is partly because of the growth in population. Partly also, because over time the military, warlike element has faded and disappeared leaving the idealistic element as supreme. Also, what was formerly male dominated has shifted to the point that chivalric orders are now equally for males and females. A further development of different kinds of orders has also taken place. There are dynastic orders, which are awarded to recognize supporters of a given dynasty, such as Britain's Royal Victorian Order.

The most common type of knightly orders are essentially recognition given by a state for some noteworthy contribution to the state, such as Britain’s Order of the Bath or the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The purpose of these state orders is to recognize people seen as being superior and noble per se. Then there is a smaller number of chivalric orders which rest on some kind of service. Here service itself is recognized as noble.

Our Sovereign Chivalric Order

Today, there are many orders in both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. Most of these resemble state orders which recognize personal status. Our Sovereign Chivalric Order recognizes actual service and individual contribution to any church, religion, or cause. Status is this order rests solely on an individual's service or contribution. Simply, the Order recognizes those of good will. Some chivalric orders are of a single class, i.e. all are equally knights and dames. Others are of a hierarchy of classes as in this Chivalric Order.

The Order’s chivalric award is classified as a decoration. Thus holders of the award can use their respective postnominal.

There are two categories for all admissions to the Order at the rank of Knight or above, these being: Category of Grace and Category of Justice. The Category of Justice is restricted to postulants who have proved hereditary nobility from each of their four grandparents or, when paternal line alone is used, from their paternal great-grandfather. Those members who are unable to furnish proof of hereditary nobility will be admitted in the Category of Grace.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried.

On the third day He rose according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I expect the resurrection of the dead.

And the life of the age to come.

Amen

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