Throughout history, armed priests or soldier priests have been recorded. Distinguished from military chaplains, who are non-combatants that provided spiritual guidance to service personnel and associated civilians, these priests took up arms and fought in conflicts as combatants. The term warrior priests or war priests is usually used for armed priests in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and of historical tribes.
In Greek mythology, the Curetes were identified as armed priests. [1] In Ancient Rome, the Salii were an order of armed priests who carried sacred shields through the city during the March festivals. [2] Livy (59 BC–17 AD) mentions armati sacerdotes (armed priests). [3]
Medieval European canon law said that a priest could not be a soldier, and vice-versa. Priests were allowed on the battlefield as chaplains, and could only defend themselves with clubs. [4]
The Aztecs had a vanguard of warrior priests who carried deity banners and made sacrifices on the battlefield. [5]
In more recent times, the warrior-priest was a common figure in the First Serbian Uprising (1804–13). [6] Several archpriests and priests were commanders in the revolt, [7] while Serbian Orthodox monasteries sent monks to join the Serbian Army. [6]
The Pyrrhic Dance in Crete is said to have been the ritual dance of the Korybantes, deities described as armed priests. [8]
Throughout history, armed priests or soldier priests have been recorded. Distinguished from military chaplains, who are non-combatants that provided spiritual guidance to service personnel and associated civilians, these priests took up arms and fought in conflicts as combatants. The term warrior priests or war priests is usually used for armed priests in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and of historical tribes.
In Greek mythology, the Curetes were identified as armed priests. [1] In Ancient Rome, the Salii were an order of armed priests who carried sacred shields through the city during the March festivals. [2] Livy (59 BC–17 AD) mentions armati sacerdotes (armed priests). [3]
Medieval European canon law said that a priest could not be a soldier, and vice-versa. Priests were allowed on the battlefield as chaplains, and could only defend themselves with clubs. [4]
The Aztecs had a vanguard of warrior priests who carried deity banners and made sacrifices on the battlefield. [5]
In more recent times, the warrior-priest was a common figure in the First Serbian Uprising (1804–13). [6] Several archpriests and priests were commanders in the revolt, [7] while Serbian Orthodox monasteries sent monks to join the Serbian Army. [6]
The Pyrrhic Dance in Crete is said to have been the ritual dance of the Korybantes, deities described as armed priests. [8]