Coat of arms of TAU's Riders - majolica

Altopascio is a comune in the Province of Lucca in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Already inhabited in Roman times, Altopascio gained in importance due to its Spedale (hostel, first mentioned in 1084) for the pilgrims who travelled on the Via Francigena, leading from France to Rome. This formed the basis of the later Order of Saint James of Altopascio. This, founded by Matilda of Canossa between 1070 and 1080, was one of the first of the Military Orders; it existed for four hundred years, in which it had considerable social, political and military influence, and though gaining land in various European countries retained its strong ties to the town where it was founded.
It is famous for the battle of Altopascio in 1325 in which the Ghibelline leader Castruccio Castracani defeated the Florentines Guelphs led by Ramon de Cardona. Thanks to his victory, he became duke of Lucca.
The Spedale declined starting from the 16th century, until Grand Duke Peter Leopold suppressed it in 1773, to favour that in Pescia.

The Order of San Giacomo d'Altopascio, also known as the Order of the Hospitaller Friars of San Jacopo, and also of the Knights of the Tau, is an ancient religious order of chivalry. It is considered by some historians to be the oldest welfare, charitable, equestrian and religious order of the Christian era, operating on the Via Francigena. Built in Altopascio near Lucca around the year 1050 by the will of 12 citizens of Lucca, who gathered in a canonical reality, operating with a cutting-edge hospital, considered a model and example for all subsequent hospitals in Italy and abroad (for example in Paris the Hopital de Dieu): had duties of assistance to pilgrims to Rome and Santiago de Compostela; over time it specialized in the care of roads and bridges.
On 14 March 1587 by will of Pope Sixtus V, at the request of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, it merged with the Order of Santo Stefano, which absorbed its assets.