Knights Templar in Portugal

Unlike elsewhere in Europe, it suffered no persecution at the time of its dissolution, its members and property in Portugal being instead transferred by King Denis to the Order of Christ, created specifically for this very purpose.

[1] Shortly after their creation, the Templars settled in Portugal in 1128, having been granted the frontier Castle of Soure on March 19, 1128 by Countess Teresa.

[1] This was a time of political tension in Portugal and just a few months afterwards Teresas heir Afonso Henriques revolted with the support of the Portuguese nobility and wrested control of the county at the Battle of São Mamede.

[1] Afonso did not oppose the presence of the Order in the territory, he sought to involve it in the Reconquista efforts against the Muslims to the south and officially confirmed the donations granted by his mother.

[1] The Templars quickly grew in numbers and influence during their first sixteen years in Portugal through the recruiting of local new members or the acquisition of property.

[5] In 1212, a number of Portuguese Templars and other volunteers from the urban militias participated in the great Battle of Navas de Tolosa under the command of preceptor Gomes Ramires.

[1] The following year, in January 31, 1310, the king signed a mutual pact with Ferdinand IV of Castile and Jaime II of Aragon should the Papacy decide to appropriate Templar property for the Church.

[1] Clement V was succeeded by Pope John XXII, who proved favourable to the proposal to create a new Order that would replace the Templars in Portugal.

[1] The last master of the Templars in Portugal Dom Vasco Fernandes ended his days as commander of Montalvão on the eastern border, "a fate vastly different than Jacques de Molay".