The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an order of chivalry which originated in a leper hospital founded by Knights Hospitaller in 1098 by the crusaders of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order is one of the most ancient of the European orders of chivalry.

History

From its foundation in the 11th century, members of the Order were dedicated to two ideals: aid to those suffering from the disease of leprosy and the defense of the Christian faith.

The first mention of the Order of Saint Lazarus in surviving sources was in 1142. The order was initially founded as a leper hospital outside the city walls of Jerusalem, but hospitals were established all across the Holy Land dependant on the Jerusalem hospital, notably in Acre. It is unknown when the order became militarised but militarisation occurred before the end of the twelfth century due to the large numbers of Templars and Hospitallers sent to the leper hospitals to be treated. The order established ‘lazar houses’ across Europe to care for lepers, and was well supported by other military orders which compelled lazar brethren in their rule to join the order on contracting leprosy.

The Order of Saint Lazarus remained primarily a hospitaller order but it did take part in a number of battles including the Battle of La Forbie on 17 October 1244 where all of the lazar brethren who fought died and the Battle of Al Mansurah on 8-11 February 1250. The leper knights were protected by a number of able-bodied knights but in times of crisis the leper knights themselves would take up arms.

The Order of Saint Lazarus quickly abandoned their military activities after the fall of Acre in 1291 and the dissolution of the Templars due to expense, being a relatively poor order.

In 1572, Pope Gregory XIII merged the Italian foundation of the Order of Saint Lazarus with the Order of Saint Maurice (founded in 1434) as the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. This became a national order of chivalry on the unification of Italy in 1861, but has been suppressed by law since the foundation of the Republic in 1946. King Umberto II did not abdicate his position as fons honorum however, and the head of the former Royal House of Savoy remains the Order's Grand Master today.

Membership

Membership of the Order of St. Lazarus is by invitation only and is an honour granted by the Grand Masters H.E. Don Carlos Gererda de Borbon, Marquis de Almazan or H.E. Count Jan Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz. Both obediences of the Order of St. Lazarus include among their number members of the European nobility, academics, politicians and senior clergy. Membership in the Order is divided into two classes, Knights of Justice and Knights of Magistral Grace, the former is restricted to members of families with noble titles. All members of the Order of St. Lazarus are invested in one of the following ranks, regardless of whether they qualify for Justice or Magistral Grace:

•Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (GCLJ) or (DGCLJ)

•Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (KCLJ) or (DCLJ)

•Knight or Dame of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (KLJ) or (DLJ)

•Commander of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (CLJ)

•Officer of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (OLJ)

•Member of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (MLJ)

Gentlemen who are invested in the rank of Knight (KLJ) or higher are entitled to the pronominal Chevalier and women invested in the rank of Dame or higher are entitled to the pronominal Dame. Clergy may be admitted into the Order in one of the ranks as Assistant Chaplain, Chaplain, Senior Chaplain, Ecclesial Commander and Ecclesial Grand Cross. There is also a companionate which is often used to honour individuals who have supported the work of the Order or who have made a significant contribution to society.

Vestments and insignia

For the Order's ceremonial occasions, such as investitures, the members wear distinctive vestments and insignia. The mantle of the Order is a black cloak with a green velvet collar and the cross of the Order sewn onto the left side. The mantle is always worn at religious ceremonies. In addition to the mantle and insignia members of the Order normally wear white gloves and ladies may also wear a mantilla in church.

The insignia of a knight is a badge with Military Trophy pendant from a green neck ribbon, and a golden breast star. Dames of the Order wear the Badge with wreath of laurel and oak springs from a ribbon bow and a golden breast star.

A green button hole rosette may also be worn on a business suit by gentlemen of the Order.