post #3069921 post #3062587 post #4475155

The Paladins (from Latin palatinus "palace official;"), also called the Twelve Peers, are twelve legendary knights, the foremost members of Charlemagne's court in the 8th century. They first appear in the (12th century) chanson de geste cycle of the Matter of France, where they play a similar role to the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian romance.

From there, the term was adapted to mean the closest retainers of a monarch. Thus, the leaders of armies supporting the Protestant Frederick V in the Thirty Years' War were named Paladins.

In fantasy, paladins are generally depicted as especially powerful and/or honorable holy knights, fighting for their deity in some fashion or another. Often, they have the ability to cast magic, making then holy spellcasters, similar to a priest or cleric. Their spells may mend and heal, or cause damage to their enemies.

Related tags:

• church
• cleric
• deity
• holy_spellcaster
• priest
• warrior

See also

• druid
• shaman
• tribal_spellcaster
• witch_doctor

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