Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/664

Rh valrous spirit and religious enthusiasm of the knightly Orders, who appeared everywhere as brave, indefatigable, and energetic champions, and as strong bulwarks on the Moorish frontiers. They were, at that period, almost indispensable institutions for the political power of Spain and Portugal, and they proved, indeed, the chief promoters of Christianity, and the most efficacious organs to stimulate patriotism and national spirit in those countries.

The abrogation of the Order of the Templars which was pronounced at the Council of Vienne, in 1312, by the contrivances of the designing Philip-le-Bel, could not, therefore, be a matter of indifference to those countries whose interests were so deeply involved in the existence of that and similar institutions. The history of Spain shows, indeed, that warm and well-founded demonstrations were made in various quarters against the injustice of the measure, and more especially so by King James II. of Aragon and Valencia, who most urgently pressed Pope Clement V. to allow him to employ all the estates of the Templars, situated in his dominions, for the foundation of a new knightly Order, so indispensably necessary for his kingdom. His request was, however, only granted in 1316 by Pope John XXII., who yielded to him all the estates of the Templars, and of the Knights of St. John, situated in Valencia. Provided with these funds, King James founded, in 1317, a new Order, that of our Lady of Montesa, after the Fortress Montesa, which he assigned as its head-quarters.

The Order received the rules of the Benedictines, and the statutes of the Knights of Calatrava, who were intrusted with the super-inspection of the new institution.

Pope Benedict XII. united with it, in 1399, the Order of St. George of Alfama.

King Philip II. procured for the Crown the supreme administration of the Order, and after the death of the fourteenth