Guzman protested, and the point remained a subject of contention until the Council of Basle (1431), when Portugal was declared to be in the wrong.

But the right of the Calatravans was never exercised, and the next grand master of the Knights of Aviz, Fernando Rodrigues de Sequeira, continued to assert supreme authority over them.

[2] The mission of the military orders in Portugal seemed to end after the overthrow of Muslim domination, but the Portuguese expeditions across the sea opened up a new field for them.

Fernando displayed a no less heroic forbearance during his six years of captivity among the Muslims, a long martyrdom[citation needed] which after his death placed him among the Blessed (Acta SS.,5 June).

After the grand mastership of the order had been vested in the King in perpetuity (1551), he availed himself of its income to reward any kind of service in the army or the fleet.

The religious spirit of the knights vanished, and they withdrew from their clerical brothers who continued alone the conventual life.

They were dispensed from their vow of celibacy by Alexander VI (1502), who tolerated their marriage to prevent scandalous concubinage; Julius III (1551) allowed them to dispose freely of their personal properties.