Sancta obedientia. Die Rolle des Gehorsams in den geistlichen Ritterorden des ausgehenden Mittelalters

Die Rolle des Gehorsams in den geistlichen Ritterorden des ausgehenden Mittelalters

Abstract

The role of obedience in the military orders of the late Middle Ages

Obedience is one of the monastic vows which was central to all monastic institutions, therefore, it was propagated with reference to the obedience of Christ to Godfather and received the attribute of sanctity. This also holds true for the military orders in which the complexity of tasks made it necessary that their members fulfilled their duties according to their orders. The term ‘obedience’ is thus regularly mentioned in the internal correspondence, it is used for the assignment of offices and with reference to the foundation goal of the orders. The masters of the orders neglected their duties if they failed to enforce obedience.

Nevertheless, there were also limits for the required obedience. Thus, the Stabilimenta of the Hospitallers of 1489/1493 regulate that the orders of the masters should only be followed if they did not contravene the statutes as becomes clear from the complaints against the newly elected master Guillaume de Villaret. But generally, the influence of the other higher officials of the orders offered a counterbalance to the necessary obedience towards the master which is demonstrated in cases where masters resigned or were deposed. Thus, obedience functioned in both directions, especially, since the masters were also bound by the statutes and by the tradition.