The Didymian Militant Order
The Militant Order of Didymus
Founded 1204 Anno Domini
"But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:11"
Founded by Father Thomas Malet
Mission To purge the new Latin Empire of the east of heresy of any sort, to make safe and pure those ancient sanctuaries of Christ and return them to the pious, true pratcice of the Roman Rite. The old rifts must be healed in order to move forward by conversion and re-education. No enemy of the spiritual of martial sort must stand in the way of the reconciliation of the eastern church with the west. The decree of Pope Innocentius III provides the charter, the mission, and the directive of this fraternal brotherhood.
The intellectual inspiration for the order, as well as its proposed patron saint, is Saint Didymus the Blind, a man renowned for his imminent blindness, and also his spiritual character and intelligence. He did not shirk from conflict, but sought to educate with either a firm or soft hand. He also stood against eastern heresies at a time that they posed a severe threat to the stability of the Mother Church
Oath
I, ____, being of sound spiritual standing, do hereby bind myself to the Didymian Order and pledge to support its mission, uphold its tenets, and give my life to see its holy destiny fulfilled. I testify that i believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church. I reject satan and all messengers of evil. I pledge my support and my fealty to the Grand Marshall of this Order as my spiritual director and my superior. I shall respect vows of charity, of poverty, and of chastity. I pledge to draw my sword only to smite the wicked, and I shall treat charitably any innocent soul, even unbelievers, who seek my protection.
Additional Strictures
I. Members must tithe annually
II. Members shall not engage in any unsanctioned military action.
III. Sanctioned military action is defined as follows: Any military action ordained and approved by any member holding the rank of Marshall or higher, or any action taken in the defense of clergy, laymen, or the Church and her possessions.
IV. members will observe vows of chastity, honor, and povery (excepting in cases where the financial wellbeing of the Order is concerned)
V. Supporters of the Order will be granted a title of Guarantor for providing financial or military assistance, and shall be the recipient of daily prayers from the brothers and protection as considered appropriate by the proper authorities
Heirarchy
Grand Marshall: This office was for life, and the Grand Master was in charge of the entire Order, worldwide. Throughout history, a couple of men retired from the position of Grand Master, with the pope's permission, but for the most part, dying was the only way out of the job.
Marshall: The Marshal was in charge of all arms, as well as all horses. He was very much a military man
Turcopolier: This officer was the third in line militarily. He was in command of the light cavalry and the Sergeant brothers
Under-Marshall: The first officer under the Marshal, the Under-Marshal was in charge of the lesser equipment, bridles, padding for saddles, barrels of water, and other supply problems. He held a very important position in battle because he held the piebald banner, a flag at the head of all, to keep stragglers together.
Knight: The knight was the backbone of the battlefield. Knights were the equivalent of the cavalry. A small force of knights was very powerful, skilled in warfare, clad in armor, able to take on a large number of foot soldiers. Only a man whose father and grandfather both had been knights could become one, and if he were caught lying about his lineage, the penalty was severe.
Sergeant: Usually from a lower social class than the more noble knights, the Sergeant was still a light cavalry officer, the chief support officer for the knight.
Squire: Squires were the young men who were there to assist the knight in any way possible, from polishing his weapons to feeding his horses. Squires were there specifically to test themselves and their mettle and to climb to the order of Knight.
Partial Membership
Any that provide monetary or military contribution, as needed, shall become provisional members under article V of the Order Strictures.
Members
Grand Marshall: Father Thomas Malet
Turcopolier: Gregory Opus
Headquarters Details none
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Originally Posted by wyrda78
