monastic rule emphasizing chastity, poverty, and obedience; and devote themselves to the medical treatment of injured or ill pilgrims (Hospitallers) or their defense on the highways (Templars). What set the military orders apart from actual monks was that to fulfill their duties in dangerous lands, they kept up their weapons training so that they were able to use sword and lance to attack Christ’s enemies and serve, if required, as special forces units in Jerusalem’s royal armies.
