Knight of the Order first appeared in medieval Europe during the Crusades.But their activity is not limited to only one war for Knight - it is not only war, but also a man of high spirituality and moral qualities.Being a knight - meant to honor the "Knight's code of honor" (a kind of credo, which includes a set of unspoken rules of behavior, both in society and in the war).But let's talk about what is a knightly orders.
Templars
first and most popular knightly order, which arose during the time of the Crusades of the soldiers who participated in the capture of the "holy land" of Jerusalem.They are called - the Order of the Knights of the Cross of Jerusalem, which indicated that a clear belonging to the spiritual and religious foundation of Christianity at the time.Banner organization has become a red cross on a white background and banner, often took out on a huge chariot - Gold Catholic cross, considered a symbol of the power of faith and inspires ordinary soldiers on feats of arms.Unfortunately, after a couple of centuries this order collapsed and was destroyed.On Friday, the 13th of the year 1307 by order of the Pope all the Templars were accused of heresy, worship Baphomet and, as a consequence, arrested and killed.This happened because the Templars, developing and increasing the power, transformed from a spiritual organization in a very powerful economic and political machine that was displeasing neither the authorities nor the religious leaders.Of course, most of the charges were simply falsified, but the spiritual and knightly orders in general is special influence to no avail.
Hospitallers
Knight of the Order, as a rule, were born in the Holy Land there where Christians for their pilgrimages needed help and support.One of these "auxiliary" units and became the Order of St. principality of Antioch, named after the busy city (near Jerusalem).Their distinguishing feature was a white cross on a black background, the Order was mainly from the French and means of doing pilgrims.Knight of the Order of this type, though not so powerful, but their experienced counterparts.For example, the same Hospitallers in our time - the Red Cross Society, which still has a feasible medical care in affected countries by various military conflicts.However, some distorted religious basis, and few people know that, along with the organization works and its offshoot, called the Order of the Red Crescent.
Knight of the Order in the world culture
So why do we need and why they are the knights "extinct"?The fact that the appearance of the Knights of soldiers was a natural phenomenon in the period when the power of one person could be opposed to the power of many, thanks to the experience, skill and ability.But a century later (with the advent of gunpowder, and even crossbows, armor piercing and being "dishonest" weapons) chivalry popularity waned, and representatives of the orders themselves "retrained" in the military-aristocratic elite of the Renaissance.But that's another story!
