[Welcome Page] [Embroidery Index] [Medieval Lampworking] [Renaissance Weddings] [Historical Spain]
The Reconquista, the Spanish struggle to expel the Moors from their homeland, is the longest of all European wars. The Moors invaded Spain in 711 AD and were not completely expelled until 1492. The Spanish Orders of Chivalry played a vital role. The first order was formed after the Templar Knights helped to repel a fresh invasion of Arabs in 1147. The Spanish people loved the idea of a disciplined military brotherhood dedicated to the defense of the Church. Four of the major Spanish military orders are detailed below:
Order of Calatrava: While this is the oldest order of the Iberian Chivalry, it is the second to receive Papal recognition. The founder was Don Diego Velázquez, a Cistercian monk, who formed a group of monks to defend the strategically important town of Calatrava. Calatrava was originally given to the Templars in 1147 but they abandoned it in 1157. The Templars thought that Calatrava was impossible to defend. Sancho III, King of Castile, promised this city to anyone who could defend it.
Order of Santiago: Founded in 1164, but the first to receive Papal recognition. The original members were 12 knights who defended pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, currently the most important pilgrimage center in Europe. Moorish bandits frequently attacked the pilgrims. Fernando II, the king of León, formed the twelve horsemen into the Order of Santiago in 1161. In 1174, Alfosno VIII, the king of Castile, gave them the city of Uclés. During Spain’s Golden Age, it was the most distinguished branch and counted authors, painters, and politicians as members.
Order of Monesa: This order is an offshoot of the Templars that survived the displeasure of the Pope and the King of France. It was formed in 1312 when the King of Aragón persuaded the Pope to allow the Templars to regroup in Montesa. The new order was dedicated to the service of the Holy Mother.
Order of Alcántara: Founded in 1156, created in order to honor the knights who defended the castle of San Julián del Pereiro. In 1177, Pope Alejandro III sanctified the order under the name of, Order of San Julián del Pereiro. The name was changed after Alfonso IX the king of León gave the city of Alcántara to the Knights.
Each of the orders was originally independent and led by a Master who ruled in the name of the Crown. Sometime after the ascension of Ferdinand and Isabella to the throne, the King became the Master for each of the Brotherhoods. Today all the Orders listed above are only honorific, because the Crown reclaimed all land bequests.
Medieval Spain by Ismael Barba García : http://rococo.ele.cie.uva.es/ismael/med/knight.html
Knighthood and Orders of Chivalry by François Velde : http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/
The Spanish Military Orders by Guy Stair Sainty : http://www.ChivalricOrders.org/orders/spanish/fourspan.htm
(Copyright 1999-2000, Katherine Estep Stephenson)