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{{Short description|Christian military order in Spain}}
{{onesource|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox order
|title       = Order of Montesa<br/>''Orde de Montesa''
|image       = Badge of the Order of Montesa.svg
|caption     = The order's emblem, a red [[Greek cross]] within a black [[Order of Calatrava|Cross of Calatrava]]
|type        = Religious Order of Honour and formerly a [[Military order (society)|military order]]
|date        = 1317
|country     = [[Spain]]
|house       = [[Spanish Bourbons|Bourbon-Anjou]]
|religion    = Catholic
|head_title  = Sovereign
|head        = [[Felipe VI of Spain|King Felipe VI]]
|head2_title =
|head2       = 
|same        = [[Order of Santiago]]<br>[[Order of Calatrava]]<br>[[Order of Alcántara]]
|notes       =
|image2      = [[File:ESP Order of Montesa BAR.svg|100px]]
|caption2    = [[Ribbon bar]]
|ribbon      = 
}}

The  '''Orde Militar de Santa Maria de Montesa''', often shortened to  '''Order of Montesa''' ({{langx|ca-valencia|Orde de Montesa}}, [[Aragonese language|Aragonese]] and {{langx|es|Orden de Montesa}}) is a Christian [[Military order (society)|military order]], territorially limited to the old [[Crown of Aragon]]. It was named after the castle of [[Montesa, Valencia|Montesa]], its headquarters.

==Templar background==
The [[Knights Templar]] had been received with enthusiasm within the [[Crown of Aragon]] from their foundation in 1119. [[Alfonso the Battler|King Alfonso I of Aragon]], having no direct heir, bequeathed his dominions to be divided among the [[Knights Templar]], the [[Knights Hospitaller]], and the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre]], but this bequest was annulled by his subjects in 1131. The Knights Templar had to be contented with certain castles, the chief of which was [[Monzón]]. Although the Aragonese branch of the order was pronounced innocent at the famous trial of the Templars, [[Pope Clement V]]'s Bull of suppression was applied to them in spite of the protests of King [[James II of Aragon]] in 1312.<ref name=Catholic>{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Military Order of Montesa|inline=1}}</ref>

==Establishment of new order==
[[File:Castell_de_Montesa_04.JPG|left|thumb|Ruins of the castle of Montesa, former parent headquarters of the order]]
King James II persuaded [[Pope John XXII]] to permit him to regroup the Templar properties in [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]] and [[Kingdom of Valencia|Valencia]], and to create a new military order not essentially differing from that of the Templars, which should be charged with the defence of the frontier against the [[Moors]] and the pirates.<ref name=Catholic/> The new order was dedicated to [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Our Lady]], and based at [[Montesa, Valencia|Montesa]]. Pope John XXII approved it on 10 June 1317, and gave it the [[Cistercian]] rule.

The order derived its title from St. George of Montesa, its principal stronghold. It was affiliated to the [[Order of Calatrava]], from which its first recruits were drawn, and it was maintained in dependence upon that order.<ref name=Catholic/>

The first of the fourteen grand masters was [[Guillermo d'Eril]]. In 1485, [[Philip of Viana]] renounced the [[Archbishopric of Palermo]] to become grand master. He died fighting the [[Emirate of Granada]] in 1488. The office of grand master was united with the Crown by [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] in 1587.<ref name=Catholic/>

{{Knights Templar}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Order of Montesa| ]]