The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas

The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
In-story information
Type of organization	Religious warrior sect

The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas is a fictional group found in the Batman comic books.

Fictional team history

The order was originally a part of the Knights Templar, a group of soldier-monks that were formed during the Crusades originally to protect pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land, and who grew quite powerful before being disbanded. The members of the Order had a falling out with the other Templars and formed their own group, named for their leader Dumas ("who nobody else has ever accused of being a Saint"). The centuries-old villain Ra's al Ghul once had "an adventure" with Dumas, and Ra's later described the founder of the Order as "...[a] vicious man, an insane fanatic." The Order eventually stole Ra's Wheel of Plagues, which contains a record of biological weapons. Ra's al Ghul himself also took their precious battle armor, the Suit of Sorrows, to pass as a family heirloom.

The order enriched itself during the Crusades and then went into hiding. It devoted itself to the teachings of Dumas. The order's first champion was an Asian man named Stephen Forrest Lee, the assassin known to Mark Shaw as Dumas. The failure of this champion splintered the order.

Splinter branch

The main branch retreated and the violent splinter elements created a new champion called Azrael, a hereditary title given to the splinter order's near-superhuman enforcer and assassin. Members of the splinter order enlarged the organization's power by killing their enemies, hoarding knowledge and kidnapping some of the greatest thinkers in the world. The order also spread disinformation to ensure that the theories of the kidnapped geniuses would look so silly that nobody would miss them or examine their research. A recent Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, eventually destroyed the splinter group.

In Detective Comics #842, it is revealed that there is another splinter faction, the Order of Purity.

A new champion

The main branch of the order recently recruited former Manhunter Mark Shaw to be their new champion.

Known members

• Brother Zoo
• Daniel Maris
• Jean-Paul Valley
• Nomoz
• Sister Lilhy
• Brother Umberto

In other media

Television

• The Order of St. Dumas appears in Season 2 of Gotham. They are depicted as having a centuries-old grudge against the Wayne family, and pull strings so their descendant Theo Galavan (James Frain) can take over Wayne Enterprises and kill Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz). Their leader, Father Creel (Ron Rifkin), who presides over a sacrificial ritual in which Bruce is the intended sacrifice. Before Creel can kill the boy, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) and Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) interrupt the ceremony and save Bruce. Gordon and Cobblepot then kill Galavan.

Video games

• The Sacred Order of St. Dumas is mentioned in Batman: Arkham City. It had long wanted to be the guiding force against crime and corruption in Gotham. When news came that Batman was rumored to be currently in Arkham City, the Order of St. Dumas jumped at the opportunity. Sending Azrael out to earn Batman's trust, the Order provided the Dark Knight with a cryptic message that would come true ten years later.

• The Sacred Order of St. Dumas is mentioned in Batman: Arkham Knight. On the night of Scarecrow's revenge amongst all the chaos caused by him and Arkham Knight, the Order finally decided to make their move. They sent Azrael to trick Batman and kill him so that they could take his place. Growing suspicious of Azrael and the Order's motives, Batman discovered the truth of their motives when the Order has planted a microchip in his brain to influence his actions:

If Azrael chooses to kill Batman, he attacks the hero with the Sword of Sin, but is subdued by him and taken to GCPD where he is incarcerated alongside Scarecrow's co-conspirators. Lane reveals himself to be a religious zealot, completely in line with the Order's creed, claiming evil has flourished under Batman's tenure and he must die so that divine justice can save the city. Azrael develops an animosity toward Deacon Blackfire as both villains consider themselves to be God's rightful representative.

If Azrael chooses to spare Batman, he enters the elevator to leave the clock tower either immediately or after picking up and breaking his own sword (it seemed to have some kind of control over him). Proud, Batman shakes his hand after he enters the elevator telling Lane that he made the right choice. Azrael explains that he only follows the will of God and not the manipulations of man. Azrael also states that the Order will answer for their crimes.

See also

• Knights Templar and popular culture

External links

• Order of St. Dumas at DC Comics Wiki