Elite heavy infantry originally created to guard the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. These companies a well armoured and equipped with a sword.
"Deliverance" of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was one of the key objectives of the First Crusade. Begun by Godfrey of Bouillon, primary leader of the First Crusade, the Canons were formed to "protect" this most holy of places. In time the Canons became associated with the Order of St. John, and while retaining their name, these elite soldiers are no longer locationally tied to the actual Church.