Johanniter

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Johanniter is a term used to refer to several different entities, all of which are connected to the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. The term is primarily used in the German-speaking world, and it is derived from "Johanniterorden," the German name for the Knights Hospitaller.

History[edit | edit source]

The Knights Hospitaller were founded in the 11th century, during the time of the Crusades. They initially provided care for sick and injured pilgrims in the Holy Land, but they soon took on a military role as well. The order was recognized by the Pope and given a rule, similar to that of the monastic orders.

In the 16th century, after the Protestant Reformation, a branch of the order in the Holy Roman Empire became Lutheran, while the main body of the order remained Catholic. This led to the creation of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem, commonly known as the Johanniter Order, which is Protestant.

Modern Johanniter[edit | edit source]

Today, there are several organizations that use the name Johanniter. These include:

  • The Johanniter Order, a Protestant chivalric order based in Germany.
  • The Johanniter International, a network of 16 national charity organizations in Europe and the Middle East, all of which are affiliated with the Johanniter Order.
  • The Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, a German charity that provides emergency medical services and first aid training.
  • The Johanniter Hospital, a hospital in Bonn, Germany, that is run by the Johanniter Order.

See also[edit | edit source]

Johanniter Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD