Campaign of the Month: August 2011
Le Ballet de l'Acier
Order of Aubrac
This tiny hospitaller order serves the Dômerie d’Aubrac, a monastery and hospital located in the town of Aubrac, and its four hospital-commanderies. Aubrac is located on a high, windswept plateau, called l’Aubrac, in the Auvergne. The hospital and the order were founded in 1031 by Viscount Adalard of Flanders, a pilgrim traveling the Way of Saint James to Santiago de Campostela. Attacked by brigands while crossing the plateau, Adalard escaped, then later established the order to protect and serve pilgrims travelling along the route from Le Puy.
At present the Ordre d’Aubrac includes a small number of hospitaller knights, including four knights-commander and one master, charged with protecting travelers and aiding the ill and injured. The prior of the order is the grandmaster of the knights. The order is also served by priests, ladies, and lay brothers and sisters who operate the five hospitals.