CODE | LAS1084 | ||||||||||||||||
TITLE | History of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus | ||||||||||||||||
UM LEVEL | I - Introductory Level | ||||||||||||||||
MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
DEPARTMENT | Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||||||||||||||||
DESCRIPTION | The aftermath of the First Crusade saw the development of a number of Military Monastic Orders specifically set up to cater for the needs of the pilgrims to the Holy Land. These had a varied development throughout the subsequent centuries. The study unit centres on the development of one particular Crusader Monastic & Military Hospitaller Order which catered specifically for the victims of leprosy. This Order was to find itself in close association with the Order of the Temple during the Outremer Period but survived that Order’s abolition. It finally settled its grand magistry in France but had other major holdings in the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, England, Central Europe and Hungary. These different groups were to eventually break off relations between each other, some falling on the wayside as a result of the Ottoman European incursion and the Reformation. This left two main fractions – one in France supported by the French king and the second in the Kingdom of two Sicilies eventually linked to the Duchy of Savoy. The French Revolution and its aftermath together with the Risorgimento had significant effects on the subsequent histories of these two branches. These two Orders still exist in modern times. The unit aims to give a deeper understanding of the developmental history of the Order of Saint Lazarus and separate myth from documented history reviewing the history of the Order right through to the present times. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the unit the student will be able to: • Describe the developmental history of the Order of Saint Lazarus from its conception to modern times; • Relate the history of the Order of St. Lazarus with that of other similar Orders including the Templar and Hospitaller Crusader Orders; • Interpret the history of the Order of St Lazarus with the political events prevalent in the various European regions throughout the centuries; • Demonstrate how the history of the Order of St Lazarus links with the changes in the epidemiology of leprosy in Europe and the prevalent attitudes existing towards the disease. 2. Skills By the end of the unit the student will be able to: • Appraise what is historically documented fact based on primary sources and what has been fabricated in attempts to aggrandize or diminish the perceptions about the Order; • Evaluate the changing relevance of the Order in European society throughout the centuries of its existence; • Argue the current relevance of the International-based Order in the modern world. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - C. Savona-Ventura. Hospitaller Knights of Saint Lazarus. Lulu Inc., U.S.A., 2019 [ISBN 9-789995-714390] - Sancti Lazari Ordinis Academia Internationalis Website: https://mhoslj.weebly.com / Further supplementary reading material will be provided during the course. |
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STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Discussions, Independent Study and Lectures | ||||||||||||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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LECTURER/S | Charles Savona Ventura |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |