PORTUGUESE ORDER OF CHRIST

With the death of Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Mol tamplierov seemed that knights-Templar forever disappear from the pages of history. But the Order does not cease its existence, moreover, the French King Philip, a beautiful, despite all his efforts, was unable to extend the persecution of tamplierov throughout Europe. Many of the monarchs of Europe supported the French King, but not all, for example, the German knights-Templar joined the Teutonic Order, or moved to ioannitam.

Portuguese King Dionisy tamplieram was obliged not only to liberate their lands and by the throne, but was in need of their continued assistance in dealing with the Moor, so there Knights Templar, were acquitted by the court at all. In addition, King believed that disgraced knights are no longer for him the danger and may even still serve him. He could seize their wealth, but chose to take their secrets. Portuguese king, not only did not take any punitive action against tamplierov but granted asylum in their country of those who escaped arrest in their homeland.

During the thirteen years of knights-tampliery continued to live in Portugal for their own laws, but the position of Pope was sustained, and because in 1318 (or 1320) in Portuguese tampliery, changing its name, began the Order of Knights of Christ.

Photo — «Portuguese Order Of Christ»

Their life is almost nothing has changed: the same statute, the same organizational structure, the same people who have inherited all of the state of Templar, located in Portugal. Except for one: now the Grand Master of Knights can not be selected, and appointed by the King.

Pope John XXII, successor Pontiff Clement V, approved the policy of King Dionysius in relation to the Knights and in 1319 approved a new order, however, reprimanded for themselves the right to partial management and the dedication of the Knights. Under the new title of the Order of Christ existed before the XVI century and played a very prominent role in the military successes of Portugal. In the XVI century, the Order of Christ had already directly to the Portuguese monarch, after which Pope Alexander VI had released Knights of the vows of poverty and abstinence. Subsequently, the Order is so strong that the King was forced to take measures to limit its independence.

Knight Order of Christ was a famous navigator Vasco da Gama and Prince Enrique navigator - Grand Master of the Order. Prince himself has never floated, but at the expense of the Order of Christ, he founded a school of navigation in Sagres, the observatory and, in general, strongly contributed to the development of shipbuilding in Portugal.

Photo — «Portuguese Order Of Christ»

At the time, had a lot of courage to decide to sail on unknown seas, which tells the story of the most incredible. There were also stories about the monstrous octopus, and the tornado to destroy the ships, and the bloodthirsty cannibals, and the mysterious sea Bishop, who appears out of the water with luminous Metropolitan on the head.

Infante Enrique gathered at the Academy of Sagres Korablestroiteley Arab and Jewish scholars who have dealt with ancient maps and books, sailors and pilots from all over Europe, regardless even of their religious affiliation. Portuguese shipyards were built in those times, modern ships, which have a model for improved nefy tamplierov. At the initiative of Prince filled ocean expedition P. Cabral, A. Qadam, and other navigators who reached the Madeira and the Azores, and has already exported ivory and black slaves from Senegal. All ships of the Order of Christ to fly eight tamplierskimi red crosses.

Under the flags of the same cross caravel Christopher Columbus ( "Santa Maria", "Pint" and "Niña") crossed the Atlantic and reached the island of San Salvador, located in the Bahamas archipelago.

Photo — «Portuguese Order Of Christ»

Christopher Columbus himself was married Felipe Moniz Perestrello - the daughter of one of the knights of the Order of Christ, who gave him his charts and sailing directions.

At the plate, the Order of Christ had no inscriptions. It was a simple cross of red and white enamel with expanding ends. The same cross placed in the center of the star of two highly Medals, and the sign of the highly fit it in an oval medallion. In the first half of XIX century, a kind of sign the Order of Christ, which was intended for the awarding of the military. The same cross placed on the oak wreath and placed on a central medallion eight cross blue enamel, topped with a crown.