ORDERS, religious military, are those instituted in defence of the faith, and privileged to say mass; and who are prohibited marriage, &c.
Of this kind are the knights of Malta, or of St John of Jerusalem. Such also were the knights Templars, the knights of Calatrava, knights of St Lazarus, Teutonic knights, &c. See MALTA, TEMPLAR, &c.
Father Putignani accounts those military orders where marriage is not allowed, real religious orders. Papebroch says, it is in vain to search for military orders before the 12th century.