Knights of St. Christopher

Fraternal Order of St. Christopher Ordo Fratrum Sancti Christophori
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Sobrii estote, et vigilate" "Be Sober, and Watch"
Anthem: Da Pacem Domine "Give Peace, O Lord"
Capital and largest city	Sanctus Paulus
Official languages	Alpanian
Recognized languages	Hellian
Ethnic groups	Alpanian- 92.4% Hellian- 2.3% Other- 5.3%
Religion	Alpanian Catholic- 97.1% Hellian Catholic- 2.9%
Government	Monastic Order
• Grand Master	Heinrich von Turngen
• Knight Seneschal	Miguel de Avaloz
History
Population
• 1936 estimate	230,000
Currency	Aureus
Driving side	left

Fraternal Order of St. Christopher Ordo Fratrum Sancti Christophori
Active	990–present
Allegiance	Papacy Holy Aventine Empire
Type	Catholic military order
Headquarters	Sanctus Petrus
Nickname(s)	The "Knights"
Patron	Our Lady of Nalenta St. Christopher St. Paul St. Christophorus I St. Valens
Colors	Black and white Red and white
Engagements	The Reconquest Ninety Years War
Commanders
Grand Master	Heinrich von Turngen
Notable commanders	St. Valens

The Fraternal Order of St. Christopher (Alpanian: Ordo Fratrum Sancti Christophori), known more commonly as the Knights of St. Christopher, is the sovereign military order, with its headquarters located on the island of Nalenta, in the middle of the Maritamian Sea between the territories of the Holy Aventine Empire in Cybelleum and in Nymera in the world of Verthandi. The Knights are a monastic religious order, founded by the Knight companions of St. Christophorus I, the Emperor of Alpana, in 990, when he ascended to the throne. Although St. Christophorus, due to the necessity of being married producing an heir, was never a full member, his closest adviser and confidant, St. Valens, gathered a group of soldiers willing to not only dedicate themselves to martial prowess but also live a communal and monastic life, and dedicated themselves in particular devotion to St. Christopher. When St. Christophorus raised the Cross and began his campaigns to reclaim the Imperial East from the Sarmars, St. Valens and his Knights accompanied him on his campaigns, quickly becoming a powerful force of heavy cavalry which broke the Sarmar invaders. The Order swelled to thousands as more and more men joined in, and they were assigned to defend cities, key fortresses and sacred sites. However, after the death of St. Christophorus I in 1036, the fortunes of the Empire and the Order quickly changed as a second Sarmar invasion lead to decisive Imperial defeats in 1037 and 1039. The reconquest that was gained was lost. St. Valens was slain in battle defending Christophorus III; most of the Order was slain in battle or defending against invading forces. Famously, the Knight defenders of !Jerusalem withstood a siege of 5 years. The bloodied and weakened Knights retreated back to Imperial lands; Emperor Stephanus III gave them stewardship of the island of Lindos. Despite their decrease in numbers, the Order proved stalwart defenders and stewards of the island. Even the Loukon Emperors, hostile to the Hartmann Mercenaries hired by Stephanus, tolerated their presence on the island. The Knights defended Lindos for over half a millennium, repulsing several Sarmar invasions. The Emperor also granted them authority of over the colony of Demoran in the region of Greater Vespera. However, in the infamous Scouring of the Empire during the Ninety Year's War, the Knights, already bloodied from service in Altenland, were suddenly beset by a Suvari invasion force in 1606. Despite valiant resistance, the Knights were defeated, and the island fell to the Suvari. At the end of the war, Emperor Petrus IX granted them stewardship of Nalenta, where they moved their headquarters. The Order would see some decline in the next centuries, but by the end of the eighteenth century it would see more growth and development. During the Clementine Wars the Order would see action, proving a potent and elite force once again; they adapted their Order to the modern mechanics of warfare. Although small in number, the Knights are still considered a cutting edge force.