Order of the Dragon

Order of the Dragon
Societas Draconistarum
Active1408–16th century
Countries Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Croatia
 Holy Roman Empire
 Wallachia
 Moldavia
Crown of Aragon
Serbian Despotate
League of Lezhë
Second Bulgarian Empire
Allegiance Holy Roman Empire
 Holy See
TypeOrder of chivalry
PatronEmperor Sigismund and Empress Barbara

The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs,[1] founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r. 1387–1437) and later became Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1433–1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the Crusades, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, particularly 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. However, after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it continued to play a role in Hungary, Serbia and Romania, which bore the brunt of the Ottoman incursions. The Prince of Wallachia Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad the Impaler, took his name from the Order of the Dragon.

  1. ^ Florescu and McNally, Dracula, Prince of Many Faces. pp. 40–2.