What Role Did the Templars Play in the Reconquista?
The Knights Templar played a major role in the Reconquista, the centuries-long Christian campaign to recapture the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim states of al-Andalus. From their first major involvement in the Iberian Peninsula in the late twelfth century, the Templars fought in many of the most important campaigns of the Reconquista, and they established a substantial network of commanderies in the Christian kingdoms of Portugal, Aragon, Castile, and Navarre. After the suppression of 1312, the Portuguese branch of the Order was transformed into a new order, the Order of Christ, which inherited the Templars’ Portuguese estates and continued the Reconquista.
This article examines the role of the Templars in the Reconquista. It is a companion to The Order of Christ in Portugal and to The Military Orders of the Crusades.
The Beginning of Templar Involvement in Iberia
The Templars’ involvement in the Iberian Peninsula began in the late twelfth century, when the Order received substantial donations of land in the Christian kingdoms of the north. The first major Templar commanderies in Iberia were established in Portugal, Aragon, and Catalonia in the 1130s and 1140s, and the Order soon established a substantial presence in the region.
The Templars’ Iberian commanderies were typically located in frontier regions that had been recently captured from the Muslims, and they served as bases for further expansion. The Order’s Iberian commanderies were organized into the provinces of Portugal, Aragon, and Castile, each headed by a Provincial Master.
The story of the Order’s structure. See The Preceptories and Commanderies.
The Templars in the Reconquista Campaigns
The Templars fought in many of the most important campaigns of the Reconquista. Some of the most notable include:
- The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212): The Templars fought alongside the kings of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre against the Muslim Almohad Caliphate. The battle was a decisive Christian victory, and it led to the rapid collapse of Almohad power in Iberia.
- The Battle of Alarcos (1195): The Templars fought alongside the kings of Castile and Aragon against the Almohads, but the battle was a Christian defeat. The defeat was a major setback for the Reconquista, and it would take another generation for the Christians to recover.
- The Reconquista of the Tagus Valley (1147): The Templars participated in the Christian conquest of the Tagus Valley, including the cities of Santarém, Lisbon, and Sintra. The conquest was led by King Afonso I of Portugal and supported by the Second Crusade.
The story of the Iberian campaigns. See The Military Orders of the Crusades.
The Templars in Portugal
The Templars in Portugal were particularly important. The Order established a major commandery at Tomar in 1160, when King Afonso I of Portugal gave the Templars the castle and town of Tomar in recognition of their service in the Reconquista. The Tomar commandery became the principal Portuguese headquarters of the Order, and it was later the headquarters of the Order of Christ.
The Templars played a major role in several of the most important campaigns of the Portuguese Reconquista, including:
- The reconquest of the Algarve (1249), the last major Muslim stronghold in Portugal.
- The defense of Portugal against the Marinid invasions in the 13th and 14th centuries.
- The exploration of the African coast in the 15th century, which was a precursor to the Age of Discovery.
The story of the Portuguese Templars. See The Order of Christ in Portugal.
The Templars in Aragon
The Templars in Aragon were also important. The Order established a substantial presence in the Crown of Aragon, with commanderies at Monzón, Miravet, and Tortosa, among others. The Templars played a major role in the reconquest of the Ebro Valley and in the defense of the frontier against the Muslim states of Valencia and Murcia.
The most important Templar commandery in Aragon was the Castle of Monzón, which served as the Order’s principal headquarters in the region. The castle is still standing today, and it is a major tourist destination.
The Templars in Castile
The Templars in Castile had a smaller presence than in Portugal or Aragon, but they were still important. The Order’s principal commanderies in Castile were at Jerez de la Frontera, Carrión de los Condes, and Palencia. The Templars fought in several major campaigns of the Castilian Reconquista, including the reconquest of Seville (1248) and the reconquest of Jerez (1261).
The Suppression of 1312 and the Order of Christ
When the bull Vox in Excelso suppressed the Templars in 1312, the Iberian branches of the Order were caught in a difficult position. The Portuguese branch was the most fortunate: King Dinis I of Portugal negotiated with Pope John XXII to transform the Portuguese Templars into a new order, the Order of Christ, which inherited the Templars’ Portuguese estates and continued the Order’s mission.
In Aragon, the Templars were absorbed into the Order of Montesa, a new military religious order that was founded in 1317. In Castile, the Templars were absorbed into the Order of Calatrava and the Order of Alcántara, the two great military religious orders of Castile.
The story of the Order of Christ. See The Order of Christ in Portugal.
The Order of Christ and the Age of Discovery
The Order of Christ went on to play a central role in the Portuguese Age of Discovery, the period from the early fifteenth to the early sixteenth centuries during which the Portuguese established a global maritime empire. The Order’s most famous connection is with Prince Henry the Navigator (1394–1460), who was Grand Master of the Order of Christ from 1420 until his death in 1460.
The Order of Christ provided much of the financing for the Portuguese voyages of exploration, and the Order’s Cross (a red cross on a white background) was painted on the sails of the Portuguese caravels. The cross became a major symbol of the Portuguese Empire, and it remains a major element of Portuguese heraldry today.
The story of the Order of Christ in the Age of Discovery. See The Order of Christ in Portugal.
Conclusion
The Knights Templar played a major role in the Reconquista, the centuries-long Christian campaign to recapture the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslims. From their first major involvement in the late twelfth century, the Templars fought in many of the most important campaigns of the Reconquista, and they established a substantial network of commanderies in the Christian kingdoms of Portugal, Aragon, Castile, and Navarre. After the suppression of 1312, the Portuguese branch was transformed into the Order of Christ, which played a central role in the Age of Discovery. The story of the Order of Christ. See The Order of Christ in Portugal.