Ordo Corneli
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Originally created as a martial order of monks, named after warrior-saint Cornelius, to protect early christian estates and congregations.
As time progressed the Ordo Corneli amassed rather large amounts of lore 'liberated' from various infidels, heretics and unorthodox thinkers. When christianity had established itself as the dominant faith in most of The Empire the Order found itself with enought time on their hands to start thinking and eventually transformed from a purely military order into one of gnosticistic mystics as well as skilled fighters.
Using King Solomon as an example they eventually turned to supernatural forces in their quest for enlightenment, freely associating with all manner of demons and devils, summoned by their Magi Pretoriani (leaders of the order) and Decani Bellisari (local commanders/deacons) as well as becoming more and more independent of the Church.
This could not be kept secret for long of course and so the Pontifex Maximus decided to do something about it. Since the Order was too strong to be defeated with force (for now) and too useful to alienate completely by excommunicate them it was decided to split the order into two separate orders.
The first, The Black Knight-Brothers of St.Cornelius (or Black Cornelians) remain as they were before but wearing black armour with grey tabards and elaborate crusifixes in gold.
Current Magus Pretorianus is Dieter von Falkenhorst.
The second, The Red Knight-Brothers of St.Cornelius (Red Cornelians) were recruited from those who kept unquestioning obedience to The Pontifex Maximus and are a strictly martial order, with extremely limited access to any potentially misleading litterature. They are commanded directly by the Pontifex or any of his trusted Cardinals. The Red Cornelians are usually on rather good terms with the papal inquisition and also act as the direct military arm of the Pontifex.
Today the orders are separated and the Red Cornelians are growing stronger and stronger while the power of the Black Cornelians are waning. Many believe a time of reckoning between The Church and the Black Cornelians is close at hand.
Sofar, however, the Black Cornelians remain the dominant order in the northern empire with their headquarters in their vast fortress-monastery in the Grey Mountains. In the south, commanded by the Pope and backed by all the political might of Remas and The Inquisition the Red Cornelians is the undisputed dominant order.
