The Templar order was suppressed throughout most of Europe from 1312–1314, but in Portugal its members, assets, and partly its membership were transmitted to the Order of Christ, created in 1319 by King Dinis. The Order of Christ moved to Tomar in 1357, which became its headquarters. One of the most important Grand Masters of the Order was Prince Henry the Navigator, […]
The castle of the Knights Templar of Tomar was built by Gualdim Pais, provincial Master of the Order of the Temple, around 1160. Later in that century, the castle was chosen as the headquarters of the order in Portugal. The castle of Tomar was part of the defence system created by the Templars to secure the border […]
The Convent of the Order of Christ is a religious building and Roman Catholic building in Tomar, Portugal, originally aTemplar stronghold built in the 12th century. After the Order of the Knights Templar was dissolved in the 14th century, the Portuguese branch of the order was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, which supported Portugal’s maritime discoveries of the 15th century. […]
The convent stands apart from the whole town, and although some dislike the implantation of new hotels by its side, they can always enjoy the interesting homes of the 18th century, the “guillotine” windows and the magnificent Manueline portal of the main church. It is one of the most fascinating pieces of Gothic and Manueline architecture within […]
The Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória (better known as Monastery of Batalha) is located in Batalha, Portugal, and ordered the construction in 1386 by King John I of Portugal2 as thanks to the Virgin Mary for the victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota. This Dominican monastery was built over two centuries until about 1517, […]
Background and creation In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Knights Templar helped the Portuguese in the battles against the Muslims, receiving as a reward extensive areas and political power. The castles, churches and villages thrived under its protection. In 1314, Pope Clement V of French origin and Philip IV of France, tried to completely […]
During the night and throughout the next day, as many as 5000 more Castilians were killed by the neighbouring towns’ villagers; according to Portuguese tradition surrounding the battle, there was a woman called Brites de Almeida, the Padeira of Aljubarrota (the baker-woman of Aljubarrota), said to be very tall, strong, and to possess six fingers on each hand, […]
The Battle of Aljubarrota was a battle fought between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile on 14 August 1385. Aljubarrota is near Alcobaça. Forces commanded by King John I of Portugal and his general Nuno Álvares Pereira, with the support of English allies, opposed the army of King John I of Castile with its Aragonese, Italian and French allies at São Jorge place, between […]
John I of Portugal (Lisbon, April 11, 1357 – Lisbon, 14 August 1433), was the tenth King of Portugal and the first of the Avis Dynasty, surnamed The Good Memory for your legacy. Illegitimate child (bastard) of King Pedro I, Master of the Order of Avis (based in Avis, Alentejo), as king following the crisis […]
By following the Benedictine rule, arises from the habit of the origin of Calatrava orders and Avis – white, with a flordelisada cross (red, in the case of the Order of Calatrava, and green, Avis). Similarly, the establishment of this rule prevented its members from marrying (unlike other military religious orders whose members were laymen). […]
