a military order instituted by the kings of Armenia, in honour of St Blaise, anciently bishop of Sebastea in that country, the patron saint of that nation. Jusfinian calls them knights of St Blaife and St Mary, and places them not only in Armenia, but in Palestine. They made a particular vow to defend the religion of the church of Rome, and followed the rule of St Basil. The precise year of the institution of the knights of St Blaife is not known; but they appear to have commenced about the same time with the knights Templars and Hofpitallers; to the former of which they bore a near affinity, the regulars being the same in both.