The Order of the Collar of Saint Agatha

The term chivalry is the general term used to describe the system of knights which flourished during the of the middle ages, but the term means much more than simply referring to those gentlemen who fought on horseback and adhered to a set of values dictating that they should honour and serve ladies and maidens. Orders of Chivalry first developed during that period in conjunction with the military undertakings commonly occurring in Western Europe against any one of the several non-Christian states of the time. Similar to the ubiquitous monastic orders of that era, the original orders of chivalry also sought to have their members sanctified by the church by means of fighting against such non-Christians, or "infidels", and by offering protection to religious pilgrims. Members of these orders all had to take a set of vows and adhere to an established system which regulated their activities.

The Militare Ordine del Collare di Sant'Agata dei Paternò, which is also known as the Military Order of the Collar (M.O.C.), is recognized by the Italian Courts and many experts as being a legitimate Order of chivalry of the Cross, and as such, is not subject to the traditional international law, belonging to the Head of Name and Arms of the Royal House of Aragon of the dynasty of Paternò Castello e Guttadauro Ayerbe Aragona of the Dukes of Carcaci and of the Princes of Emmanuel under its Grand Master H.R.H. Don Francesco, Duke of Perpignan. The Order was founded in 1289 by King Alfonso III as a chivalric association and restored as a dynastic order of knighthood in 1855. It is a non-national Order as defined by the Law of the 3rd March 1951 of the Republic of Italy. The Protectress and Patron of the Order is Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, whose Feast is celebrated as that of the Order on 5th February. Saint Agatha's heroic defence of Christian principle makes her a very appropriate Protectress for an Order of Knights. The principal aim of the Order as restored is to propagate in the modern world the tradition of chivalry as a way of life. It practices good works principally through its Hospitaller Service.

Chivalry is the generic term for the knightly system of the Middle Ages and for virtues and qualities it inspired in its followers. The word evolved from terms such as chevalier (French), caballero (Spanish), and cavaliere (Italian), all meaning a warrior who fought on horseback. The term came to mean so much more during medieval times.

Chivalric orders first appeared with military activities against non-Christian states. During the Middle Ages, Western Europe aggressively sought to expand its area of control. The first orders of chivalry were very similar to the monastic orders of the era. Both sought the sanctification of their members through combat against "infidels" and protection of religious pilgrims, and both had commitments that involved the taking of vows and submitting to a regulation of activities.

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