Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/58

24 THE TEUTONIC ORDER.

In the earlier part of the 12th century, about the time when, in the East, the Knights of various countries began, after the model of the monks, to form themselves into different Orders, for the purpose of vanquishing the infidels, and protecting and supporting, with all the energy and enthusiasm inspired by vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, the numerous pilgrims on their way to the Holy Sepulchre; a pious German, whose name is now lost, built at Jerusalem a hospital for the pilgrims of his native country—the then existing Orders of the Templars and of St. John, having thought fit to devote their care exclusively to the comforts of the French and Italian pilgrims. This hospital soon counted for its patrons several wealthy merchants and Knights, and being consecrated by the Patriarch, a chapel was joined to it, devoted to the Blessed Virgin; it soon became an important asylum for German warriors, especially in 1189 at the siege of Acre, when the founder, assisted by contributions from German merchants at Lübeck and Hamburg, took care of the sick and wounded soldiers, who lay in tents before that place.

In 1191, Frederick of Suabia, on his arrival, after the death of Frederick of Barbarossa, with the rest of his army before Acre, deemed it advisable to secure to the institution a more solid basis. He gave it a constitution, and prescribed to the Knights and merchants assembled, regulations, the general outlines of which he formed after those of the Order of St. Augustine, while the rules and laws concerning the sick and poor he borrowed from the Knights of St. John, and those relative to war and peace from the Templars. He conceded to it all the rights and privileges peculiar to