In the mid eleventh century, a group of people devoted to taking care of the sick came together to form one of the greatest brotherhoods of the Middle Ages. They named themselves the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, more commonly referred to as the Knights Hospitaller. They named themselves after Saint John the Hospitaller. These knights devoted their time and lives to the care and protection of the ill and dying during the twelfth century. The Hospitallers took in people of all illnesses, except those with leprosy due to safety reasons, regardless of their age, race or sexuality. Not even a century later, in 1113 Pope Paschal II recognized the Knights Hospitaller in a Papal bull (bill). As the years passed, the Knights Hospitaller soon transformed from a group that cared for the sick, into “one of the most effective fighting forces of the Middle Ages.” Although the Knights Hospitaller cared for the sick and defended the people, did these righteous people continue their great service, or did they turn on their vows and become corrupt like many organizations before them.
The knights of The Order of the Knights Hospitaller were ruthless warriers who became one of the most powerful fighting forces of the Middle Ages. The Knights Hospitaller played an important part in the Second, Third and Fourth Crusades. The Knights Hospitaller was well respected knights who fought with bravery and courage on the battlefield. They were so well respected that even their presence on the battlefield boosted the other soldiers.
The only other force that could possibly rival the Knights Hospitaller in strength was the Knights Templar. Because of this it was fitting that the two groups rivaled each other. The Templars were also fierce f...
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The Military Orders, including the Templars and Hospitallers, were created to protect pilgrims on the route to Jerusalem, but grew into ranks of professional soldiers with a great presence in the East, answerable to the Papacy. These orders “grew rapidly and acquired castles at strategic points in the kingdom and northern states. […] They were soon established in Europe as well, they became international organizations, virtually independent, sanctioned and constantly supported by the papacy” (Madden). The Pope possessed, for the first time, a dedicated military force in Europe. These two outcomes indicate the growth of the Church’s power as a result of the First Crusade, and support the proposition that the Papacy intended it as a way for advancing its political and economic position.
Kings often struggled with the Church over power and land, both trying desperately to obtain them, both committing atrocities to hold onto them. Time and time again, the Popes of the postclassical period went to great extremes to secure the Church’s position in the world. Both the Crusades and the Inquisition are examples of this. D...
The Middle Ages was a dark time for the people of Europe. As the Black Death reigned during the mid-14nth century, dead bodies littered the streets, social order was abandoned, and human pretenses were forgotten. This deadly disease resulted in a complete alteration in the foundations of Europe itself. Unique practices, myths, and beliefs manifested themselves in the people?causing them to doubt the very church and government which had once captured their undoubting faith. Despite the scrambling of both doctors and church officials, there seemed no end to the enormous death tolls. The plague, feared and dreaded by all, changed the behavior of an entire continent and resulted, ultimately, in the death of a third of its population.
In Medieval Times knights are the protectors. The knights fight for, and obey the king. And for that reason Knight’s are in high rankings in the class system, compared to the peasants and merchants. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, people are going on the pilgrimage to Canterbury for Salvation. The knight is Chaucer’s ideal of a night should be. The knight is a highly principled killer who travels the world and fights for what he believes in with unequivocal bravery and valor.
The Knights listed their principal aims as to bring within the folds of organization every department of productive industry, to secure to the toilers a proper share of the wealth that they create, to educate wo...
In the earlier ages, when Rome still had a strong army and navy, they were able to defend their borders. Their army was so strong, they were able to conquer Greece and prosper for many years. After the armies were gone, knights arose in their place to protect the borders from intruders. Although knights were not directly influenced by Roman armies and navies, they were the next best thing for military and business purposes. Because of Roman help, knights were able to influence today’s military.
During the Medieval Times, knights hold high status and are seen as sovereign, yet their actions are contradicting. Knights stand for loyalty, justice, and chivalry; however, most are liars, cheaters, and foolish. Throughout medieval literature, authors create characters that contain both attributes and utilize literary elements to highlight this medieval crisis. Many Knights maintain a loyal and noble character because chivalry outlasts hypocrisy.
“He is my knight in shining armor,” is a cliché that is all too frequently tossed in conversation. While it is meant as a positive statement, a historical perspective debunks the honorable and romantic stereotype of the knight. Upon analysis of both historical and fictional knights, one is enlightened as to why the phrase is an inadequate expression of adoration. In the modern world, the knight seems to be the figurehead of the medieval era. He stands as a stronghold of purity, honor, and hope. Ultimately, the knight is a symbol of the Christian faith, a mighty disciple of God. In reality, medieval knights were not the beacon of faith they are commonly portrayed to be. Although the concept of knighthood reflects values of Christianity
The Knights Templar were the manifestation of a "new chivalry" which united the seemingly incompatible roles of monk and warrior. As the first religious military order, these dedicated men were models for successive orders including the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, later known as the Hospitallers, and the Teutonic Knights of the Hospital of St. Mary, two contemporary, rival brotherhoods. These and other orders, flourishing during the 12th-14th centuries as protectors of the Holy Land, were the first standing troops to be properly trained and commanded in Western Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire (Seward 17). The extraordinary story of the Knights Templar ranges from its humble establishment to a period of extreme prosperity, and, finally, to a tragic, haunting conclusion.
In order for the crusades to begin, the Christians needed to gather an army to travel and fight the forces of Muslims. With all the power being held by monarchies at this time, the church needed to be cleaver in order to gain troops to put their lives on the line. To gain the support of these warriors and dedication of men, Pope Urban II (1088-1099) challenged those morals of men by telling them to grab their weapons and join the holy war to recover the land of Jerusalem. It was not the challenge that convinced men to take part in this war. The promise of “immediate remission of sins” attracted the men to stand up for their religion and beliefs while at the same time, promising them a trip to heaven when life comes to an end. With this statement, men instantly prepared for battle which in a very short period of time gave the church power which has been held by the monarchies. Men of rich and poor prepared for battle, some wearing ...
Throughout the ten-century, particularly in France, the world had become an extremely violent place. Feudal Knights were often quarreling over land possession, looting, and looking to lay people to provide them with sustenance . Likewise, the power of these knights and the extent of violence flourished due to the increasingly lacking power and authority of the kings . The Church, in an attempt to halt the violence and anarchy attempted to take control and issued such concepts as “the Peace of God” . Similarly, at this time other movements for peace by the Church were underway, and one of the commonly held ideas was the need to transform the world to more “monkish ideals”. From these ideals also sprouted the concept of the laity having “God-given functions to perform, functions that could include fighting to protect the Church”. Pope Leo IX (1049-1054) is an example of this idea; he often used militia to fight against his opponents. In the early eleventh century, there came a pivotal figure in the ideas of Church sanctioned war, Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085). Pope Gregory was involved in the Investiture Contest, and soon turned to scholars to seek out “justification for his conviction that violence could be used in defense of the Church and could be authorized by it”. The movements generated by Pope Gregory, as well as the results of the Inve...
... of all Christian knights: none could match you! You were the most formidable in battle and the most courteous in manners; in the company of warriors the most courageous, and in the company of ladies the gentlest of men, and in a righteous cause implacable. And of great lovers surely you were the truest. So it is you shall be remembered" (Malory 507).
They were brave and skilful in battle, but merciful to their enemies once vanquished. They were courteous to ladies, and never ate or drank in excess. Knights associated in groups which they called orders. They vowed loyalty to the king they fought under and formed military organizations to defend his land and property against the enemies.
Religion was one of the most powerful influences on medieval medicine. People of the medieval period used to think that illness was either a punishment or a test of faith. Their way of curing this illness was to pray and help the poor (Medieval Medicine and the Plague, 12). Some would even whip themselves in hope for forgiveness (The Usborne Internet-Linked Medieval World). Saints held great power. They were thought to be able to perform miracles and cure the ill. People would start to venerate the saints. They would even go on pilgrimages to shrines of saints to ask for help with ill loved ones. The church, of course, did not discourage this. (Su...
The Roman Catholic Church had complete influence over the lives of everyone in medieval society, including their beliefs and values. The Church’s fame in power and wealth had provided them with the ability to make their own laws and follow their own social hierarchy. With strong political strength in hand, the Church could even determine holidays and festivals. It gained significant force in the arts, education, religion, politics as well as their capability to alter the feudal structure through their wealth and power. The Church was organised into a hierarchical system that sustained the Church’s stability and control over the people and lower clergy, by organising them into different groups.