Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star

[Ron Broberg]

I am new to the topic of religious orders and am currently just googling around. I am doing background research for a German-Bohemian 13thC protrayal.

And I bumbed into St. Agnes and the Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.
Apparantly this is a religious order, philosophically Franciscan, related to the Order of St. John.

http://www.smom-za.org/bgt/redstar.htm
http://www.smom-za.org/bgt/bgt_2d.htm
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/clarissen ... s-prg.html
http://www.worldhistory.com/wiki/K/Knig ... -Cross.htm

Is the use of the word 'Knights' honorific?
If the order is not actually military, would/could a Knight be a lay-monk of such an order?
Anyone have good references for this particular order?

Thanks
Ron

Edit - I found them in an online catholic encyclopedia - though they have mysteriously dropped the "red star" off the english title. There is some discussion of this order as a military order. Ordo Militaris Crucigerorum cum Rubea Stella
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08671a.htm

Edit - A list of grandmasters
http://scholar76.tripod.com/crusaders2.htm

[Aidan Cambel]

Judging by the "device" pictured with the red croos and red star on a black field, it is reminiscent of the The Knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, or the Templars. I only briefly read over the links you provided but from what I read, the years also seem to coincide.

The Knights ofthe Order of the Temple of Solomon, from what I recall, were actually Knights who renounced their worldy posessions, took the vows of poverty, chalice, etc. and took up arms to defend christianity. The Knights would wear white with the red cross, while men at arms would wear black or brown with the red cross.

This order you mention may be somehow related, due to the similarities of the "badge" in which case the Knight title would be accurate, but only truly applying to the Knights themselves. (note: this red cross on a black or white field is not the true "heraldry" for the templars. Because of the fact they renounced everything worldly and followed the path of God, heraldry was not used.) but I digress..

I am not sure where you are planning on doing your recreation, but in the SCA many people have done Templar/religous order personas. Be advised that if the order you are questioning has distinguishing characterristics in the portrayal on the Knights vs. men-at-arms, you may want to portray the persona as it relates to you. While I've never heard anyone chastising a person who is not a Knight portraying a persona of a Templar in white, in some areas it is looked down on.

I know my answer has mostly talked about the templars, but as I mentioned, the similarities in the red cross and the timeline has me thinking they are related.

I hope this helps somewhat....

In Service,
Aidan

[carlyle]

I'm fairly certain that the church is situated on the east bank of the river at the foot of the Charles bridge. I have been in the stalagtite vault (very gauche), but the church proper was the most impressive (decorated with full human skelatons in their repose, IIRC). Contary to Aidan's analysis, I think the Knights of the Red Cross are affiliated with the Hospitalers, not the Templars. I'm working entirely from memory here, however -- having visited the site some four years ago -- but the sites you referenced ring familiar with what I can remember.

Guess you'll need to organize your own pilgrimmage to Prague to find out for yourself, eh ?

With regards... AoC