7. The Order of Calatrava: Royal Control and Secularization
The Order of Calatrava, established in 1158, was Spain’s oldest military and religious order, playing a significant role in the Reconquista (visit-andalucia.com). Over time, its military and political influence declined. In 1489, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I incorporated the order into the Spanish Crown, reducing it to a ceremonial role (universalium). The order’s properties were secularized in the 19th century, and it now exists as a civil association under the Spanish monarchy.
