Introduction

Evidence for the material culture and built environment of the Military Orders was a recurring theme of the conference, with particular interest in the cabrei, a type of legal document that developed from the late sixteenth century, recording the location, extent, and use of property. The continuing success of ‘The Military Orders’ conferences in attracting excellent scholars from around the world are testimony to the vitality and expansion of Military Order studies. It is a sad occasion because this is the first volume without a contribution from the founder of these conferences, Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith. JRS’s erudition and energy will be sorely missed in Military Order studies. Interest in the Military Religious Orders tends to be linked to research on the Crusades, but with increasing interest in material culture and art history, the history of slavery, and the study of memory and memorialisation, Military Order studies are engaging with topics at the heart of historical research.