The fons honorum of the Order of Saint Lazarus : 1800-1910

Abstract

The Ordre de Saint Lazare in the early nineteenth century enjoyed the fons honorum of the Holy See (Bull of 1255), the Protectorship of the reigning French King (Edict of 1609 and Bull of 1664), and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (Bull of 1261). In 1831, the then reigning French King abrogated his fons honorum of the Order leaving the Council of Officers free to look to alternative protectors while retaining the fons honorum of the Holy See. Having been made responsible for the Eastern Mediterranean lands in 1838, the choice for a protector allegedly fell on the Melkite Patriarchate who apparently assumed this role in about 1841. The Risorgimento movement of the late nineteenth century led Pius IX as head of the Papal States to assume administrative control of the Ordre de Saint Lazare and admit a number of individuals who had in some way supported his cause to the Order of Saint Lazarus. The Holy See abrogated its fons honorum of the Order in 1905 forcing a reorganization of the Order into a secular association under the spiritual protectorship of the Melkite Patriarchate.