The Order was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the National Patron of Galicia and Spain, St. James The Greater. Its initial objective was to protect the pilgrim of St, James Way and to defend Christendom.
Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, the Centre of Devotion to this Apostle, is neither the Cradle nor the principal Seat of the Order. Two Cities contend for the Honor of having given birth, Leon in the Kingdom of that Name, and Ucles in Castille.
In 1157-1230 the Royal Dynasty was divided into 2 Branches, the rivalry of which tended to obscure the Beginnings of the Order. The Knights of Santiago had possessions in each of the Kingdoms, but Ferdinand II of Leon and Alfonso VIII of Castilla, in best-owing them, set the condition that the Seat of the Order should be in their respective States. The long disputes ended in 1230 when Ferdinand III, the Saint, united both Crowns. Thereafter, Ucles, in Cuenca Province, was regarded as the headquarters of the Order; there the Grand Master habitually resided, the aspirants passed a year of probation there, and the rich archives of the Order were preserved until 1869 when the union with the National Historical Archives of Madrid, was done.
In its beginnings, entrance into the Order was not difficult, but after mid-13th century it became more complicated. Once the Reconquest was finalized, a candidate who wishes to join the Order must have proved in his 4 last names that he, his parents, and his grandparents were of noble descent by blood and not by privilege, and had never worked in manual or industrial labor.
The Order was divided into several Provinces, the most important ones being Castille and Leon because of their number of properties and vassals. At the head of each Province was a military commander with Headquarters in Segura de La Sierra, Castilla, and Segura de Leon, Leon.
The most important period for Segura de la Sierra was during the Arab Occupation, when the town was called Saqura. The Village was conquered in 781AD by Abul-Asvar who was responsible for buildings several Walls that surround the Town. People were Under the Rule of the "Walies" serving the Cordoba Kings. After fighting the Almohad (those who affirm the Unity of God), the ones in the Christian side took control and the King Alfonso VIII donated the Village to the Military Order of Santiago. Many nobles and personalities were born there in those days, including the poet Jorge Manrique. With the invasion of Napoleon's troops, the Town was set on Fire and most of its Archive was destroyed.
The most important internal subdivision of the Military Orders were called "Encomiendas," which were local Units directed by a Knight Commander of military Order. The "Encomienda" could place the Headquarters or residence of the Knight Commander in a Castle or Fortress or in a small Town and was the Administrative or Economic Center in which the Rents of the Estate and Properties relevant to that "Encomienda" were paid and received.
Each "Encomienda" had to support the Knight Commander and the other Knights living there, and to pay and arm a certain number of Spearmen, who had to be properly equipped and take part in military actions they were called to by their Master. All of them formed the armed retinue or army of The Order, which answered to the orders of its Master.
The Revenue of the Order came from Land, Pastures, Industries, Toll and Right of Way, Taxes, and Tithe.
The Order of Santiago still exist under the Protection of the Spanish Crown.
No comments:
Post a Comment