Throughout history, armed priests or soldier priests have been recorded. Distinguished from
military chaplains who served the military or civilians as spiritual guidance (non-combatants), these priests took up arms and fought in conflicts (combatants). The term warrior priests or war priests is usually used for armed priests of the antiquity and Middle Ages, and of historical tribes.
History
In Greek mythology, the
Curetes were identified as armed priests.[1] In Ancient Rome, the Salii who were armed priests 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]
The warrior-priest was a common figure in the
First Serbian Uprising (1804–13).[6] Several archpriests and priests were commanders in the uprising.[7] Serbian Orthodox monasteries sent monks to join the ranks of the Serbian Army.[6]
Legacy
The "Pyrrhic" dance in Crete is said to have been the ritual dance of armed priests.[8]
Shaolin Monk, Chen, Zen Buddhist monks in feudal China
Righteous armies, Korean guerilla fighters, including monks, who resisted the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98).
Sant Sipahi is a Sikh ideology, inspired by the lives of Sikh gurus, of a saint soldier who would adhere one's life in strict discipline both in mind and body.
Naga Sadhus, a militaristic sect of arms-bearing Hindu sannyasi.
John Murphy (priest) (1753 – c. 2 July 1798), Irish Catholic priest and one of the leaders of the
Irish Rebellion of 1798. Captured, tortured and executed by British Crown forces.
José María Morelos (1765–1815), Roman Catholic priest, Mexican independentist commander.
Srejović, Dragoslav; Gavrilović, Slavko; Ćirković, Sima M. (1983). Istorija srpskog naroda: knj. Od Berlinskog kongresa do Ujedinjenja 1878-1918. Srpska književna zadruga.