If the knightly orders directly dominate politics, it’s the clerical monastic and mendicant orders who dominate the way people think, and the way they view their duties to God. The seven independent orders are the orders of St. Augustine (Augustinians), St. Benedict (Benedictines), St. Benedict again (Cistercians), the Blessed Virgin (Carmelites), St. Dominic (Dominicans), St. Francis (Franciscans) and St. Norbert (Norbertines).
Intellectual life is both driven and restricted by the clergy. The bulk of academic work in Europe, outside of training for a career in medicine or law, is undertaken by monks and friars, working in monasteries or at one of Europe’s universities or cathedral schools. This applies especially to magic, which the church does not wish to see in the hands of layfolk. The most academically important orders are the Augustinians, Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans.
St. Augustine
Symbol: Flaming heart pierced by an arrow on the background of an open book.
The Augustinians were founded in 1244, with a focus on community life and pastoral work. They have a strong presence in urban areas and in academia. They have contributed a great deal to European education, theology and philosophy, fusing Christian and pagan Greek ideas. A few have even succumbed to the temptation of paganism, much to the order’s shame. Saint Augustine is patron of brewers, printers, theologians, and philosophers. While Augustinians have wide-ranging academic magical interests, they are known for producing magical potions and prints.
Agustine’s origin as a pagan Roman of North Africa has influenced both the order’s academic work, and their political leanings. They have collected a considerable number of Roman and Neo-Platonic Greek texts and have a scholarly interest in the pagan traditions of Rome and North Africa. Politically, they tend to favor states with a history of both Roman and North African influence, mainly states in the South and South-West of Europe, such as the Italian cities, south France, Aragon, Castile and Portugal.
Doctrinal differences have led them to be academic rivals of the Franciscans, especially at the University of Paris, and to a lesser degree, the Dominicans, especially at Oxford. They are on good terms with the Carmelites, due to their shared dedication to serving the urban poor. The Cistercians tend to view the Augustinians as lax and self-indulgent.
St. Benedict of Nursia, Benedictines
Symbol: St. Benedict’s cross.
The oldest of the great monastic orders, the Benedictines were established in 529 by St. Benedict of Nursia. They are known for their motto “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work). Monasteries are usually located in rural areas. As one of the oldest monastic orders, the Benedictines held vast tracts of land and wealth, making them powerful political players. Their abbots often acted as advisors to kings and nobles. They have a long tradition of scholarship, with many monasteries hosting libraries and schools.
The order has a particularly strong presence in eastern Europe compared to other monastic orders, and has done much to keep Hungary and Poland-Lithuania loyal to the Vatican. In general, they tend to favor the states of eastern Europe in political disputes. However, there have been tensions for centuries between the Benedictines and the Holy Roman emperors, who have no wish to be subject to the pope. Relationships with the Knights of St. Maurice, guardians of the Holy Roman Empire, are complicated, involving both admiration and resentment.
Over time, the Benedictines have followed the rule of St. Benedict less strictly, and have been accused of laxness. The Cistercians emerged as a reform movement within the Benedictine tradition in the 11th century, seeking to return to a stricter and more literal observance of the Rule of St. Benedict.
St. Benedict is called upon for protection against poison, inspiring his monks to study herbalism. He is called upon for protection against curses, inspiring his monks to study curses and the means by which they can be countered. Benedict is patron of agricultural workers and animal husbandry, leading his monks to often side with the peasants against the nobility. This has put them on good terms with the knights of St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. George, and St. Martin.
St. Benedict, Cistercians
Symbol: Crane.
The Order of Cistercians was founded in Burgundy in 1098 by a group of Benedictine monks led by St. Robert of Molesme. Believing that the Benedictines had become too lax and worldly, the founding monks were seeking a return to a stricter observance of the Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizing manual labor and self-sufficiency. They are named after their first abbey at Cîteaux in Burgundy. Their patron saint is St. Benedict, like the Benedictines.
Cistercians are known for their austere lifestyle, dedication to agricultural work, and distinctive white habits, which earned them the nickname "White Monks". Despite their individual poverty, their large agricultural estates have made them likely the richest order in Christendom. While Cistercians rarely involve themselves with the universities or cathedral schools, some have been accomplished scholars, and many monasteries contain extensive libraries. The tendency for monasteries to isolate themselves has lead some to be eccentric in their scholarship.
There have always been tensions between the Benedictines and Cistercians, born of Cistercian criticism of Benedictine laxness. Other monks tend to react to Cistercians depending on how they feel about laxness in general, and how they feel about the Benedictines. Cistercians might be held up as an object lesson in what monks should be or looked down on as simplistic.
Their presence is strongest in Burgundy, France, England, and the Holy Roman Empire, though they have only limited presence any further east. They tend to favor these states in political disputes, especially Burgundy where they originated. The Knights Templar have their roots in the Cistercian movement, and their patron saint, Bernard, was a Cistercian. Templars and Cistercians have traditionally supported one another. Like the Benedictines, Cistercians tend to sympathize with agricultural workers and peasants, which can strain relations with the rich and powerful, but has made them friendly with the knights of St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. George, and St. Martin.
The Blessed Virgin
Symbol: Cloaked shield.
The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, better known as the “Carmelites”, was founded on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land in the late 12th century. The Carmelites emphasize contemplative prayer, community life, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. Their spirituality is deeply rooted in the mystical tradition. The Carmelites contribute to theological education and are involved in the intellectual life of the Church, with notable scholars among their ranks.
Carmelites have on occasion had rivalries with the Dominicans over preaching rights and influence in urban centers. On the other hand, they tend to be on good terms with the Franciscans, as both tend to urban poor. The Carmelites are one of two major religious orders devoted to the Virgin, the other being the Teutonic Knights. Though the orders have no shared history, this has given them a common bond, and they have often helped or defended one another. This, in turn, has caused tension between the Carmelites and Poland-Lithuania, along with their guardians, the Knights of St. Stanislaus.
St. Dominic
Symbol: Lily cross.
The Dominican Order, also known as the Order of Preachers (Ordo Prædicatorum), was founded by St. Dominic de Guzmán, a Castilian priest, in 1216. St. Dominic established the order to preach and combat heresy. They have often been involved in inquisitions. Over time, they have increasingly contributed teaching and academia. They have a significant presence in universities and cathedral schools and are known for producing influential theologians and philosophers, including Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Albertus Magnus. They are unique in the way that they combine a commitment to scholarly study with active ministry, emphasizing both intellectual rigor and pastoral care. They have been influential in reintroducing pagan Greek ideas to intellectual life, much to the horror of some. Dominicans and Franciscans in academia have clashed over the Dominican’s openness to pagan ideas, with tensions especially high at the University of Paris. Their inquisitional work has given them much opportunity to collect restricted texts, including heretical or blasphemous works.
The Dominicans role in inquisition and theological education gives them significant political influence. They tend to favor the states of the Iberian peninsula, especially Castile, origin of St. Dominic. They seek the promotion of universities and cathedral schools and the suppression of heresy.
St. Francis
Symbol: Tau cross.
The Franciscans were established by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209. The order emphasizes poverty, simplicity and humility, and devotes itself to preaching, pastoral care, education and scholarship. They are known for their compassion to the poor, and their love of animals and nature. They are highly involved in academia and the order has produced famous scholars like Duns Scotus and Roger Bacon. They are particularly liable to study magic related to healing, animals and plants.
The poverty of the Franciscans has not prevented them from having political influence and involving themselves in political matters, particularly in Italy. They are known for mediating conflicts and advising rulers. Some have been known to be biased towards Italian interests. They have been critical of the openness some academics have shown to pagan ideas. This has brought them into conflict with the Augustinians and especially the Dominicans, especially at the University of Paris.
St. Norbert
Symbol: Crossed crooks.
The Norbertines, also known as the monks of St. Nobert, or the Premonstratensian Order, were founded in 1120 by St. Norbert of Xanten in Prémontré, France, and strictly follows the Rule of St. Augustine. Norbertines are canons regular, meaning they live a communal life dedicated to prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist, and pastoral work. They combat heresy, revitalize the faith of the laity, and promote peace and reconciliation among enemies. The order played a key role in the Christianization of regions around the Elbe and Oder rivers.
St. Norbert founded the Norbertine Order on principles of love, selfless sharing, and radical hospitality. This meant that their abbeys are often centers of refuge and support for the poor and travelers. Many have advocated for the poverty of the clergy, bringing them into conflict with not only other orders, but the Vatican itself. Since they follow the Rule of St. Augustine more strictly than most Augustinian monks, the tend to look down on the Augustinians as lax and worldly. Founded in France, the Norbetines are disposed toward the French, and many are indignant that Prémontré has been in Burgundian hands since 1435. The order has spread widely, and while its presence is not strong in Italy and Spain, Norbert is revered in Eastern Europe and is patron saint of Bohemia. The Bohemian monarchy has long been a particular patron of the order, inclining the Norbertines towards Bohemia.