Post by Rhys O'Hare on Mar 14, 2015 5:29:43 GMT
The Hospitaller Order
Backstory
The most important of all the military orders, both for the extent of its area and for its duration. It is said to have existed before the Crusades and is not extinct at the present time. During this long career it has not always borne the same name. Known as Hospitallers of Jerusalem until 1309, the members were called Knights of Rhodes from 1309 till 1522, and have been called Knights of Malta since 1530.
The origins of the order have given rise to learned discussions, to fictitious legends and hazardous conjectures. The unquestionable founder was one Gerald or Gerard, whose birthplace and family name it has been vainly sought to ascertain. On the other hand, his title as founder is attested by a contemporary official document, the Bull of Paschal II, dated 1113, addressed to "Geraudo institutori ac praeposito Hirosolimitani Xenodochii". This was certainly not the first establishment of the kind at Jerusalem. Even before the crusades, hostelries were indispensable to shelter the pilgrims who flocked to the Holy Places, and in the beginning the hospitia or xenodochia were nothing more. They belonged to different nations; a Frankish hospice is spoken of in the time of Charlemagne; the Hungarian hospice is said to date from King St. Stephen. But the most famous was an Italian hospice about the year 1050 by the merchants of Amalfi, who at that time had commercial relations with the Holy Land. Attempts have been made to trace the origin of the Hospitallers of St. John to this foundation, but it is obvious to remark that the Hospitallers had St. John the Baptist for their patron, while the Italian hospice was dedicated to St. John of Alexandria. Moreover, the former adopted the Rule of St. Augustine, while the latter followed that of the Benedictines. Like most similar houses at that time, the hospice of Amalfi was in fact merely a dependency of a monastery, while Gerard's was autonomous from the beginning. Before the Crusades, the Italian hospital languished, sustained solely by alms gathered in Italy; but Gerard profited by the presence of the crusaders, and by the gratitude felt for his hospitality, to acquire territory and revenues not only in the new Kingdom of Jerusalem, but in Europe, in Sicily, Italy, and Provence. In the acts of donation which remain to us, there is no mention of the sick, but only of the poor and strangers. In this respect the hospice of Gerard did not differ from others, and his epitaph defines his work:
Pauperibus servus, pius hospitibus . . . .
Undique collegit pasceret unde sous.
It is now 1250 after the death of our lord, we have heard troubling news in the realm of Arion. The Nordic savages have moved into the area and have setup a raiding camp. The area chosen by the savages was a wise choice, it is very defensible. However these pagans have yet to meet the power of our lord and the strength of our steel. These pagans have already began raiding all of the local settlements, and it is our duty and our life, to protect the people of Arion and right the wrongs of these pagans. As of now our numbers are few, but with time and the grace of god, we will swarm the pagan stronghold and free the people of Arion from their cold dead hands. As Grandmaster Guillaume de Chateauneuf gave the command to march, he gave command of the Hospitaller forces to Captain Rhys O'Hare. And know his brothers and sisters of the order have established a monastery, a sanctuary for the poor and weak and symbol of fear for the pagans. Only one god shall rule this land, and we will fight until the very last man. In god's name... Amen.
The origins of the order have given rise to learned discussions, to fictitious legends and hazardous conjectures. The unquestionable founder was one Gerald or Gerard, whose birthplace and family name it has been vainly sought to ascertain. On the other hand, his title as founder is attested by a contemporary official document, the Bull of Paschal II, dated 1113, addressed to "Geraudo institutori ac praeposito Hirosolimitani Xenodochii". This was certainly not the first establishment of the kind at Jerusalem. Even before the crusades, hostelries were indispensable to shelter the pilgrims who flocked to the Holy Places, and in the beginning the hospitia or xenodochia were nothing more. They belonged to different nations; a Frankish hospice is spoken of in the time of Charlemagne; the Hungarian hospice is said to date from King St. Stephen. But the most famous was an Italian hospice about the year 1050 by the merchants of Amalfi, who at that time had commercial relations with the Holy Land. Attempts have been made to trace the origin of the Hospitallers of St. John to this foundation, but it is obvious to remark that the Hospitallers had St. John the Baptist for their patron, while the Italian hospice was dedicated to St. John of Alexandria. Moreover, the former adopted the Rule of St. Augustine, while the latter followed that of the Benedictines. Like most similar houses at that time, the hospice of Amalfi was in fact merely a dependency of a monastery, while Gerard's was autonomous from the beginning. Before the Crusades, the Italian hospital languished, sustained solely by alms gathered in Italy; but Gerard profited by the presence of the crusaders, and by the gratitude felt for his hospitality, to acquire territory and revenues not only in the new Kingdom of Jerusalem, but in Europe, in Sicily, Italy, and Provence. In the acts of donation which remain to us, there is no mention of the sick, but only of the poor and strangers. In this respect the hospice of Gerard did not differ from others, and his epitaph defines his work:
Pauperibus servus, pius hospitibus . . . .
Undique collegit pasceret unde sous.
It is now 1250 after the death of our lord, we have heard troubling news in the realm of Arion. The Nordic savages have moved into the area and have setup a raiding camp. The area chosen by the savages was a wise choice, it is very defensible. However these pagans have yet to meet the power of our lord and the strength of our steel. These pagans have already began raiding all of the local settlements, and it is our duty and our life, to protect the people of Arion and right the wrongs of these pagans. As of now our numbers are few, but with time and the grace of god, we will swarm the pagan stronghold and free the people of Arion from their cold dead hands. As Grandmaster Guillaume de Chateauneuf gave the command to march, he gave command of the Hospitaller forces to Captain Rhys O'Hare. And know his brothers and sisters of the order have established a monastery, a sanctuary for the poor and weak and symbol of fear for the pagans. Only one god shall rule this land, and we will fight until the very last man. In god's name... Amen.
The Vow
Upon the True Faith of a Christian, may God witness that I hereby vow and dedicate myself as a servant of Christ and the Poor, the first qualification of a True Knight.
I promise to be faithful and loyal to Christ and to be guided by the ideals of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem: to do everything in my power to contribute to its Glory, Protection, Prosperity, Support and Utility: to combat everything prejudicial to its well-being: never to act contrary to its Dignity, but to conduct myself always as a true Knight of Christ: a good Christian and a person of Honour.
Believing that Christ will grant me a special token of his favour, I therefore, in all Humility, Charity, and Respect agree to join with every sincere and Godly Christian of whatever Church, to bring about by prayer and deed the salvation of the Christian World by helping to promote a lasting Christian Unity.
I will adorn my Knighthood with true Charity, the mother and solid foundation of all virtues.
I will wear on my person the Christian Maltese Cross of eight points, to constantly remind me of my religious vow of always bearing in my heart the Cross of Jesus Christ, adorned with the virtues that attend it.
So help me God.
Roster
Grandmaster
Guillaume de Chateauneuf
Captains
Rhys O'Hare
Knights
Healers
Serfs
Bas
Max
Romer
Laws
- Thou shalt protect the poor, the widow and the orphan.
- Keep the roads clear of bandits.
- Caring for free the injured Christians.
- Follow up the chivalrous code.
Application
All applications will be done in-game at the monastery...
Roster
Grandmaster
Guillaume de Chateauneuf
Captains
Rhys O'Hare
Knights
Healers
Serfs
Bas
Max
Romer
Laws
- Thou shalt protect the poor, the widow and the orphan.
- Keep the roads clear of bandits.
- Caring for free the injured Christians.
- Follow up the chivalrous code.
Application
All applications will be done in-game at the monastery...
