Warriors of the Lord

The great religious orders of Christianity -- theBenedictines, the Dominicans, the Franciscans, theJesuits -- are well known for their monasteries, theirlearning, and their missions around the world. Butin the Middle Ages and beyond, there was anotherkind of religious order whose profession it was tobear arms in defense of Christendom. This lavishlyillustrated work tells the extraordinary story of themilitary orders of the Church.From their humble beginnings in the early twelfthcentury as caretakers of the sick and protectors ofpilgrims to the Holy Land, military religious ordersquickly expanded their numbers and goals. They notonly fought for the holy places but also helped turnback the advance of Muslim armies into westernEurope and aided the spread of Christianity to landsalong the Baltic. The Knights of St. John, the KnightsTemplar, the Knights of Santiago and of Calatrava, the Teutonic Knights, and other formal militaryorders played a fearsome, sometimes brutal, but currently neglected role in the history of Christianity.Coupling a compelling narrative with strikinghistoric art, Michael Walsh examines the development, beliefs, spirituality, and cultural contributionsof these determined soldier-monks. Walsh draws ona wide range of historical documents, introducingreaders to the missions, lifestyles, writings, and buildings of the various military orders and highlighting their spiritual, intellectual, artistic, and educationallegacies.Fascinating, informative, and attractively laid out, "Warriors of the Lord will thrill anyone interested in Christian or cultural history.