The dissolution of the Order of the Temple and the creation of the Order of Christ in Portugal
Journal Title: Ordines Militares Colloquia Torunensia Historica. Yearbook for the Study of the Military Orders - Year 2016, Vol 21, Issue
Abstract
The present research takes as a point of departure the foundation bull of the Order of Christ, given by Pope John XXII in March 1319. A study of the Trial of the Templars in Portugal follows. Finally, the article focuses on the circumstances of the creation of the new order, in the light of the relationship between the Portuguese monarchy and the Apostolic See and of the context of civil war between Dinis of Portugal and his son and heir, the Infant Afonso. The institution of the Order of Christ has traditionally been seen by historians as a very linear process, in which the king’s will was imposed on the pope and a well-defined and successful project was carried out. In reality, the archival sources suggest otherwise, in the form of a very complex string of actions, which implicated not only the pope and the king but also the infant, the bishop of Lisbon, the former Templars themselves, and many other actors, often in conflict among each other. The strategies employed by the king were much less successful as they might have appeared, as initial attempts to ascribe the Templar patrimony to the Portuguese Crown did not yield results. In fact, after having carried out an inquiry, in 1314, to prove the supremacy of the Crown over the Templars and their heritage in Portugal, the king finally changed strategy. After long negotiations, an agreement was reached with the pope permitting the creation of a local military order, the Order of Christ, conceived of in Portugal as the result of a “reform” of the Order of the Temple. The former Templar castles, cities and other possessions were passed on to the new order and King Dinis had to content himself with the revenues generated by that patrimony.
Authors and Affiliations
Giulia Rossi Vairo
Keywords
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- EP ID EP306111
- DOI 10.12775/OM.2016.003
- Views 58
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