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M146 - Knight of Calatrava

ref. EK Castings M146 - Knight of the Order of Calatrava

EK Castings M146 M146 - Knight of the Order of Calatrava, XIIIc
Military order of Calatrava was founded in Spain in 1158. Pope Alexander III in 1164 approved its charter. Order received its name from the conquered from the Moors fortress of Calatrava. This fortress in 1147 was taken by the troops of Alfonso VII, with the support of the Templars, who remained to protect her. Later, Sancho III of Castile promised Calatrava castle to anyone who would be able to protect her. The abbot Don Raimundo and the monk Diego Velaskes took on this task and established a fortress to protect the Order of Calatrava. In 1195 the fortress was taken by the Moors, who owned it until 1212.
Knights of Calatrava had adopted the Charter St. Benedict. Among the strict vows and restrictions have been demands to sleep in the battle armor and wearing a black and white Cistercian mantle with a red cross formed by the lily.
In subsequent years, the Order won from Muslims many fortresses and cities, and carried his bet from the valley to the mountains of Toledo Sierra Morena. In the town of Salvaterra knights founded a monastery, calling it a new Calatrava. Order quickly gaining momentum. He developed land, granted by kings for military assistance. Order had landed property in Aragon, Portugal, Naples and Syria, collecting levies in some areas of the Mediterranean. Calatrava Knights made an invaluable contribution to the Spanish Reconquista. In addition to protecting the borders of the Christian kingdoms, the host of the Order took an active part in the campaigns of the Castilian sovereigns, the siege and storming of Muslim fortresses. Ribbon cavalry in the Spanish army was considered unsurpassed. Like the Hospitallers and the Templars, Order of Calatrava concentrated in the hands of great wealth and owned vast lands, however, with the victory of absolutism in Spain lost its independence. Since the end of the 15th century Master of the Order is the Spanish Kings.
The Order ceased to exist in 1873.