Order Of The Dragon

Kingdom of Croatia
 Holy Roman Empire
 Wallachia
 Moldavia
 Crown of Aragon
 Serbian Despotate
 League of Lezhë
 Second Bulgarian Empire
  Holy See

The Knight's Order of the Dragon (German: Drachenorden; Latin: Societas Draconistrarum) was created based on the Burgundian Knight's Order of St. George. The order was originally in charge of protecting the royal family of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund (while he was still King of Hungary).

Members of the order were called drakon(s) or dracul(s).

In Croatian historical texts, the name Zmajonosci is also used. ( engl : Dragon keepers )

### **The establishment of the Knights of the Dragon**

The Order of the Dragon was established on 12 December 1408 by the Hungarian king, subsequently Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg.

The order chose Saint George and Saint Magdalene as their patrons, and the reason for establishing it was to protect the Christian Europe and Christian values jeopardized by the young Asian civilization that aspired to aggressively impose its religion and its culture.

Twenty-four of most worthy of European knights, personalities characterized with high moral principles, elite in the broadest sense of the concept, were members of the First Order of the Dragon.

The honorable place, according to the founding charter – first among equals – was Despot Stefan Lazarević, master of Serbia.

On December 13, 1408, the charter of the order was published, in which it was indicated that the basic task of the order is **the defense of the cross from the enemy, especially from the Turks**.

### **Founding members**

The 21 original members of the Order of the Dragon were enumerated in the 1408. founding charters.

These were, in original order and Latin description :

1.**Stephanus despoth**, dominus Serbiae,

Stefan Lazarević (1374–1427), Serbian Prince (1389–1402) and Despot (1402–1427).

2.**Hermannus comes** Cily et Zagoriae,

Hermann II (1360s–1435), Count of Celje, Styrian prince and magnate, father of the Hungarian Queen consort Barbara of Cilli, most notable as the faithful supporter and father-in-law of the Hungarian king Sigismund of Luxembourg, Ban of Croatia and Ban of Slavonia (1406–1407).

3. **comes Fredericus**, filius eiusdem,

Frederick II (1379–1454), Count of Celje, son of Hermann II.

4. **Nicolaus de gara**, regni Hungariae palatinus,

Nicholas II Garai (c. 1367–1433), Hungarian baron, Ban of Croatia (1395–1397), Ban of Slavonia (1397–1401), Palatine of Hungary (1402–1433).

5. **Stiborius de Stiboricz** alias vaiuoda Transyluanus,

Stibor of Stiboricz of Ostoja (c. 1348–1414), aristocrat of Polish origin in the Kingdom of Hungary, Voivode of Transylvania (1395–1401, 1409–1414), also ispán of Arad and Szolnok Counties (1395–1401), ispán of Szolnok County (1409–1414), Nyitra and Trencsén Counties, Lord of all Váh.

6.**Joannes filius Henrici** de Thamassy et

John Tamási, Hungarian nobleman, Voivode of Transylvania (1403–1409), Master of the doorkeepers (1409–1416), also ispán of Szolnok County (1403–1409).

7.**Jacobus Laczk de Zantho**, vaiuodae Transyluani,

James Lack of Szántó, Hungarian nobleman, Voivode of Transylvania (1403–1409).

8.**Joannes de Maroth Machouiensis**,

John Maróti (c. 1366–1434), Hungarian nobleman, Ban of Macsó (1397, 1398–1402, 1402–1410, 1427–1248), Count of the Székelys (1397–1398), also ispán of Bács, Baranya, Bodrog, Syrmia, Tolna and Valkó Counties.

9.**Pipo de Ozora** Zewreniensis, bani;

Pippo Spano (1369–1426), Italian magnate, general, strategist and confidant of King Sigismund of Hungary, Ban of Severin, also ispán of Temes, Csanád, Arad, Krassó, Keve Counties (1404–1426), Csongrád and Fejér Counties (1407–1426), also ispán of the chamber of salt (1400–1426), Royal treasurer (1407–1408).

10. **Nicolaus de Zeech** magister tauernicorum regalium,

Nicholas II Szécsi, Hungarian nobleman from the influential House of Szécsi, Royal treasurer (1397), also ispán of Zala County (1402), secular gubernator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Veszprém (1403–1405), master of the doorkeepers for the Queen (1406–1409), Master of the treasury (1408–1410), also ispán of Vas County (1406–1419), Sopron County (1406–1410).

11. **comes Karolus de Corbauia**, supremus thesaurarius regius,

Charles, Count of Krbava, Croatian nobleman, Ban of Croatia (1408–1409), Royal treasurer (1408–1409), castellan of Visegrád (1403–1409).

12. **Symon filius condam Konye** bani de Zecheen, janitorum,

Simon Szécsényi, Hungarian baron and military leader from the influential Szécsényi family, a staunch supporter of King Sigismund of Hungary since the 1380s, Master of the doorkeepers (1403–1409), Judge royal (1395–1412),also ispán of Sáros (1403–1405), Szepes (1404), Borsod (1404–1405) and Heves (1405) Counties.

13**. comes Joannes de Corbauia**, dapiferorum,

John, Count of Krbava, Croatian nobleman, Master of the stewards (1406–1419).

14.**Joannes filius Georgii** de Alsaan pincernarum,

John Alsáni, Master of the cupbearers.

15.**Petrus Cheh de Lewa** aganzonum regalium magistri,

Peter Cseh de Léva, Master of the horse, Voivode of Transylvania (1436–1438), also ispán of Bács, Baranya, Bars, Bodrog, Syrmia, Tolna and Valkó Counties.

16**. Nicolaus de Chak**, alias vaiuoda Transyluanus,

Nicolaus Csáki, Hungarian nobleman, Voivode of Transylvania (1402–1403, 1415–1426), also ispán of Békés, Bihar, Csanád, Csongrád, Keve, Krassó, Szolnok, Temes, and Zaránd Counties (1402–1403), ispán of Békés, Bihar, and Szolnok Counties (1415–1426).

17. **Paulus Byssenus**, alter Paulus de Peth, pridem Dalmatiae, Croatiae et totius Sclauoniae regnorum bani,

Paul Besenyő and Paul Pécsi, Hungarian noblemen, Ban of Dalmatia, Ban of Croatia, Ban of Slavonia (1404–1406).

18.**Michael, filius Salamonis de Nadasd** comes siculorum regalium,

Michael Nádasdi, Hungarian nobleman, Count of the Székelys (1405–1422).

19. **Petrus de Peren**, alias siculorum nunc vero maramorossensis comes,

Peter Perényi, Hungarian nobleman, Count of the Székelys (1397–1401), Ban of Macsó (1397, 1400–1401), Judge royal (1415–1423), also ispán of Ung (1398–1423), Máramaros (1404–1412), Szatmár and Ugocsa (1406–1419) Counties.

20.**Emericus de eadem Pern** secretarius cancellarius regius

Emeric Perényi, Hungarian nobleman, important diplomat King Sigismund of Hungary, Secret chancellor, also ispán of Abaúj and Borsod.

21. **et Joannes filius condam domini Nicolai de Gara** palatini.

John Garai, nobleman from the Hungarian-Croatian Garai family, son of Nicholas I Garai, and brother of Nicholas II Garai, the Palatine branch of the family.

### **Order symbol**

The symbol of the order is a dragon with its tail wrapped around its neck. On the back of the dragon, from the neck to the tail, there was a red cross of Saint George, while the whole symbol was on a silver background. The dragon represented the beast from the Book of Revelation, while the red cross symbolized Christ's victory over evil forces. Members of the order were expected to wear the symbol at all times, usually in the form of a medallion around their neck, and were often buried with it.

Representatives of the University of Bucharest believe that the original name of the charter establishing the order 'O Quam Misericors est Deus, Pius et Justus' was most likely part of the emblem.

### **Order growth**

In 1431, Sigmund made a decision to expand the order. To do this, he invited a large number of politically influential figures and militarily useful vassals to become members of the Dragon Knights.

Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad Cepes, who was in charge of defending part of the border, was among the important persons who were given this honor. passes from Transylvania to Wallachia. (The nickname "Dracul" was given to him when he became a member of the Order of the Dragon.)

### **Eminent Members**:

**Stibor de Beckov** or Stibor II, son of Stibor of Stiboricz

**Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić** (ca. 1350-1416), Grand Duke of Bosnia

**Vuk Lazarević,** brother of Despot Stefan Lazarević, received the title from Sigismund.

**Fruzhin,** bulgarian prince, son of Tsar Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria.

**Vlad II Dracul** (d. 1447), then Prince of Wallachia

**Alfonso V** of Aragon

**Ferdinand I** of Naples.

**Benjamin de Benyó,** Voivod of Liptov.

**Oswald von Wolkenstein** (d. 1445)

Foreign allies, who did not swear an oath of loyalty:

**King Ladislaus II of Poland,** Sigismund's former brother-in-law

**Grand Duke Vytautas** of Lithuania,

**King Henry V** of England

members of Italian families, such as the Carrara, della Scala, Useppi, and leaders of Venezia, Padova and Verona

The introduction of new members into the Dragon Order led to the creation of different classes within the order itself. Each class had a slight variation in the symbol of the order, although the figure of the dragon was still dominant. The most common changes included the use of inscriptions such as "O quam misericors est Deus" ("Oh, how merciful God is") and "Iustus et paciens" ("Just and Peaceful"). The Knights of the Dragon had a very strong influence until Zygmund's death in 1437. However, without a strong protector, the order soon lost its importance and prestige.

### **The modern age**

Although the symbol of the order was appropriated by numerous noble families in Europe, few historical artifacts of the order have been preserved to this day. A copy of the founding charter of the order from 1707, which is kept in the University of Bucharest, is the oldest surviving historical artifact of the order.

Today, the "Imperial and Royal Court and Order of the Dragon" represents the recently unofficially revived Order of the Dragon.

Although not considered a knightly order, it has gained a large following. One of its most prominent members is Michael Stewart of Albany, better known by his self-inflicted title of "Prince Michael of Albany."Albany claims to be a direct descendant of Charles Edward Stuart, the last representative of the royal house of Stuart.

On June 28, 2011, Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević, as a member of the royal family from Serbia, a country whose ruler, Despot Stefan Lazarević, was one of the founders of the old Order of the Dragon, restarts the Order. After his death, the first man of the order is Prince Vladimir Karađorđević.