ABSTRACT
The links between women and male houses of the military orders were of diverse kinds, and obviously in many instances brought no close involvement in the life and work of a convent. Templar sources provide a number of examples of women who associated themselves with the order and adopted a form of religious life. While personal ties may have influenced the viscountess of Bearn, military orders may in some cases have been favoured by other patrons partly because of the moderate character of their observances. Since the Temple and Calatrava did not normally undertake hospitaller duties, this function cannot be attributed to women who associated themselves with male houses of these orders. Women's houses were inevitably dependent on male assistance in both spiritual and temporal matters. Women's houses participated to only a very limited extent in the work and activities of the military orders, but there was little challenge to their survival.
