Order of the Dragon

Order of the Dragon
Societas Draconistarum
Active	1408–16th century
Countries	Kingdom of Hungary Kingdom of Croatia  Holy Roman Empire  Wallachia  Moldavia Crown of Aragon Serbian Despotate League of Lezhë Second Bulgarian Empire
Allegiance	Holy Roman Empire  Holy See
Type	Order of chivalry
Patron	Emperor Sigismund and Empress Barbara

The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Societas Draconistarum, literally "Society of the Dragonists") was a monarchical chivalric order only for selected higher aristocracy and monarchs,^[1] founded in 1408 by Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was then King of Hungary and Croatia (r. 1387–1437) and later became Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1433–1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the Crusades, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, particularly the Ottoman Empire.

The Order flourished during the first half of the 15th century, primarily in Germany and Italy. After Sigismund's death in 1437, its importance declined in Western Europe. However, after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it continued to play a role in Hungary, Serbia and Romania, which bore the brunt of the Ottoman incursions. The Prince of Wallachia Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad the Impaler, took his name from the Order of the Dragon.