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The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility, founded in 1408 by Sigismund von Luxembourg who was King of Hungary (from 1387 to 1437) at the time and later became Holy Roman Emperor (from 1433 to1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the Crusades, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, in particular the Ottoman Empire.
The Order flourished during the first half of the 15th century, primarily in Germany and Italy. After Sigismund's death in 1437, its importance declined in Western Europe, but after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it continued to play a role in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Romania which bore the brunt of the Ottoman incursions.
Founding members
The 21 original members of the Order of the Dragon were enumerated in the 1408 founding charters. These were, in original order and Latin description:
- Stephanus despoth, dominus Rasciae - Stefan Lazarević (1374–1427)
- Hermannus comes Cily et Zagoriae - Hermann II of Celje, count (c.1365 -1435)
- comes Fredericus, filius eiusdem - Frederick II of Celje, count (c.1379 - 1453)
- Nicolaus de gara, regni Hungariae palatinus - Nicholas Garai, II (1367 -1433)
- Stiborius de Stiboricz alias vaiuoda Transyluanus - Stibor of Stiboricz (1348 - 1414)
- Joannes filius Henrici de Thamassy et
- Jacobus Laczk de Zantho, vaiuodae Transyluani,
- Joannes de Maroth Machouiensis,
- Pipo de Ozora Zewreniensis, bani;
- Nicolaus de Zeech magister tauernicorum regalium - Nicholas - Miklós Széchy de Felsõlendva (c.1360 - c.1432)
- comes Karolus de Corbauia, supremus thesaurarius regius - Karlo /Karoly Karlović /Corbavia /Kurjaković, Graf von Corbavia (c. 1440 - 1493)
- Symon filius condam Konye bani de Zecheen, janitorum,
- comes Joannes de Corbauia, dapiferorum,
- Joannes filius Georgii de Alsaan pincernarum,
- Petrus Cheh de Lewa aganzonum regalium magistri,
- Nicolaus de Chak, alias vaiuoda Transyluanus,
- Paulus Byssenus, alter Paulus de Peth, pridem Dalmatiae, Croatiae et totius Sclauoniae regnorum bani,
- Michael, filius Salamonis de Nadasd comes siculorum regalium,
- Petrus de Peren, alias siculorum nunc vero maramorossensis comes,
- Emericus de eadem Pern secretarius cancellarius regius - Imre Perényi (+before 25.7.1418)
- Joannes filius condam domini Nicolai de Gara palatini - János Garai (c.1371 - c.1439)
Members
- Stibor de Beckov or Stibor II, son of Stibor of Stiboricz
- Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić , Ban of Croatia and Grand Duke of Bosnia
- Vuk Lazarević , brother of Despot Stefan Lazarević, received the title from Sigismund.
- Fruzhin , son of Tsar Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria.
- Vlad II Dracul (d. 1447), then Prince of Wallachia (Father of Vlad Dracul III)
- Vlad Dracul III (d.1477) then prince of Wallachia (Son of Vlad II Dracul)
- Alfonso V of Aragon
- Ferdinand I of Naples
- Benjamin de Benyó, Voivod of Liptov.
- Oswald von Wolkenstein (d. 1445)
- Vladislas II of Bohemia and Hungary (1456–1516)
- Albert V, Archduke of Austria was the Second Grand Master of the Order
Foreign allies
who did not swear an oath of loyalty:
- King Ladislaus II of Poland
- Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania, Sigismund's former brother-in-law
- King Henry V of England
members of Italian families, such as the Carrara, della Scala and leaders of Venice, Padova and Verona