CALATRAVA, kii'la-trii'vit. A military and religious Order in Spain, instituted in 1158, in the reign of Sancho 111. of Castile. It received the town of Calatrava as a perpetual gift, on condition that it should defend it against the Moors. The Order was confirmed by Pope Alex ander III., in 1164, and very soon came to ren der effective service in the wars against the Mohammedans. While the Christian States in Spain were exhausting themselves by internal strife, the Order of Calatrava was the main bul wark against the Moors. In 1197 the latter cap tured Calatrava and the knights removed to Sal vatierra. In 1212, however, they not only re covered Calatrava, but had an important share in the deadly blow which was struck at the power of the Ahnoravides. In 1213 Calatrava united with the Order of Avis. The power of the Knights of Calatrava was shown at the time they joined the Orders of Aledntara and Santiago in exacting from Alfonso XI. a guarantee of their liberties and customs. The later history of
Calatrava is a series of civil wars between the grand masters, which became so troublesome to the Government that Ferdinand and Isabella. in 1487-88, prohibited a new election and secured the grand-mastership to the Crown by a Papal bull in 1493. Later Charles V. made the Order perpetual, with the King of Castile as head. In 1808 Calatrava became an Order of merit. On Mandl 13, 1872, the Order was suppressed by the republican Government. but was reorganized by Alfonso XII., June 13, I874. Those who entered the Order look the vows of poverty and obedience. At. first marriage was forbidden, but Paul III. in 1540 made this concession. and gradually the Order lost most of its religious character. The original garb was black, but in 1396 Benedict Sill. (antipope) allowed the knights to adopt, the red cross. The present dress is a mantle of white, decorated with a red cross, cut out in the form of lilies.