The
Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel or
Carmelites (sometimes simply
Carmel by
synecdoche; ) is a
Roman Catholic religious order founded, probably in the 12th century, on
Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain.
Saint Bertold has traditionally been associated with the founding of the order, but few clear records of early Carmelite history have survived and this is likely to be a later extrapolation by
hagiographers. There is a very small body of Anglican Carmelites.