Knights Calatrava Cross Keychain

Knights Calatrava Cross Keychain

The Knight Order of Calatrava was the first military and religious order founded in the Kingdom of Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bull confirming the Order of Calatrava as a Militia was given by Pope Alexander III on September 26, 1164. The Order of Calatrava was founded by Abbot Raymond of Fitero with the original purpose of protecting the town of Calatrava, located near present-day Ciudad Real.  

Knights of Calatrava were hugely successful and were rewarded by grants of land from the King of Castile. But by 1195, after a surge of new Muslim recruits from Africa, the Knights were overpowered and the Moors retook the castle which they kept for another 17 years. The Calatravas then recovered possession of the stronghold and from there spread to the far corners of Iberia.