The "Begardens", a group of religious layman, have their roots in the early 13th century. In spite of not taking any solemn promise, they used to live a simple way of life following the gospel "among the normal people". They lived on weaving and handicraft and even in the Middle Ages they dedicated themselves to nursing the sick and burial of the death.
In the 15th century they joined the Augustinian Order or the third congregation of the Franciscan Order. The time of the "Begardens" ended within the Middle Ages; they were the originators of the Alexian Order.
