Order of Chivalry of Santiago
A cross of Saint James.
Una cruz de Santiago.
Interpretation of the emblem of the order with: its cross outlined in Sable, illuminated in Gules; and a heavily hammered metal finish.
The Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa, in its historical account of the foundation of the Order of Santiago, describes three different points of view:
Regarding the emblem of the Order of Chivalry of Santiago, [Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter II, page 328, plate 25, figure 100] states «the Commandery of this Order was always a red Sword» (gules ~ red), «in the form of a Cross, just as the guards of the ancient Swords that its Knights and Commanders carried on their white Mantles, and today also on the chest in the same manner, hanging from a red ribbon on a gold medal; that is, in a field of Or, a Cross of Gules».
Blazon keywords: Cross of Saint James, Cross couped and Cross.
Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.
Classification: Interpreted, Religious, Military and Emblem.
Bearer: Santiago, Order of.
In 1523, the Order of Santiago, the Order of Calatrava, and the Order of Alcantara were definitively incorporated into the Crown of Castile, which marked the consolidation of the Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa. However, it is known that this Royal Council already existed at the beginning of the same 16th century, or even earlier, although there are no foundational documents available to date its inception.
The internet address of its website is ordenesmilitares.es where it also hosts the pages dedicated to each of its four orders:
After the Crusades ended and following the model of the military orders created in the Holy Land, European kings established Orders of Chivalry, many of which were military and religious institutions, like the four grouped under this Royal Council.
Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Socioeconomic, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross, Quarterly per saltire, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped, Cross of Calatrava, Cross of Alcantara and Cross of Montesa.
Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry, of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa.
Emblem quarterly per saltire: 1, a cross of Saint James; 2, a cross of Calatrava; 3, a cross of Alcantara; 4, a cross of Montesa.
Emblema cuartelado en sotuer: 1o, una cruz de Santiago; 2o, una cruz de Calatrava; 3o, una cruz de Alcántara; 4o, una cruz de Montesa.
Interpretation of the emblem of the Royal Council with: its four crosses outlined in Sable, illuminated in Gules, Vert, and Sable; and a heavily hammered metal finish.
There is another version of this emblem of the Royal Council with the crosses of its four orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, and Montesa outlined in Or instead of Sable.
Blazon keywords: Cross, Quarterly per saltire, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped, Cross of Calatrava, Cross of Alcantara and Cross of Montesa.
Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Freehand.
Classification: Interpreted, Socioeconomic and Emblem.
The Order of Chivalry of Santiago is both military and religious. It was founded in the Kingdom of León during the 12th century, although there is a difference of opinion regarding its exact year of foundation. It is named after the patron saint of Spain, James the Greater.
The purpose of its foundation was the protection of the Way of Saint James and the pilgrims who traveled it, and to participate militarily in the advancement of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
[Avilés, J.; 1780b; treatise IV, chapter II, page 325] writes «The oldest authentic instrument that is found regarding the origin of the Order of Chivalry of Santiago of the Sword», observe how José de Avilés e Iturbide refers to the order in the masculine form, «is the donation made in the years of 848», note how the Marquess of Avilés does not doubt the antiquity of this order and even in other subsequent paragraphs, he dates it even earlier than currently believed, «made to the Church of Santiago by the King of León Don Ramiro in memory of the famous victory he achieved against the Moors in the battle of Clavijo (two leagues from Logroño), as evidenced by its Privilege, for having seen this Holy Apostle armed and mounted on a Horse, fighting in defense of the Christians; to whose devotion, and in this recognition, the said Order was instituted, taking from it its origin and name, as well as the same Cross that the Saint bore on his chest, and Shield, represented in the form of a Sword, of red color», gules ~ red, «for the blood shed of the Infidels, of whom Don Rodrigo Ximenez, Archbishop of Toledo, in his Chronicle Book VII says»: «Kubet ensis sanguine Arabum».
Cross of Saint James the Greater drawing by me with a single stroke. This is the reason why it is asymmetrical, it has the base tip crooked, there are some sides higher than others, and it shows the failure of my pulse in a certains turns.
It is by far my most downloaded and copied painting, the most used on websites, citing me or not, the most used in hotels advertising, parish sheets... and even on T-shirts.
Categories: Institution, Interpreted, Religious, Military, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Emblem, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped and Cross.
Eagle, Bald eagle, Eagle claw, Dorsal fin, Tail fin, Two hands clasped, Lark, Tree, Trunk, Rainbow, Atom, Barbel, Acorn, Arm, Owl, Horse, Head, Thistle, Kapok tree, Stag, Doe, Crescent, Increscent, Tail, Ermine spot, Heart, Roe deer, Neck, Roe deers' attires, Raven, Dolphin, Diamond, Tooth, Elephant, Emerald, Starling, Mullet, Mullet of four points, Star of David, Estoile, Male figure, Fleur de lis, Hop cone, Puffin, Ash, Claw, Talons, Goose, Heron, Seagull, Pomegranate, Sunflower, Falcon, Leaf, Boar, Goldfinch, Laurel, Barn owl, Lion, Lioness, Lion passant, Leopard, Lion rampant guardant, Lynx, Lily, Flame, Wolf, She-wolf, Moon, Hand, Apple, Martlet, Wing, Two wings in vol, Covert, Mount, Trimount, Fly, Wrist, Olive tree, Orbital, Bear, Palm frond, Palm tree, Dove, Poplar leaf, Paw, Forepaw, Peacock, Chest, Pelican, Pelican in her piety, Dog, Brach hound, Fish, Hoof, Beak, Quill, Cinquefoil, Quetzal, Branch, Caboshed, Oak, Holm oak, Rose, Double rose, Serpent, Sun in splendour, Ray of the sun, Stem, Badger, Wheat, Wheat spike, Bull, Tulip, Udder, Escallop and Fox.
Halberd, Plough share, Ace of spades, Anchor, Cyclamor, Torch, Arch, Harp, Non-classic artifact, Crozier, Ship, Beret, Grenade, Ecclesiastical cap, Chain, Covered cup, Bell tower, Cannon dismounted, Carbuncle, Castle, Clarion, Nail, Cord, Dagger, Key ward, Turret, With a turret, Sword, Sabre, Scroll, Arrow, Garb, Gauntlet, Axe, Buckle, Spear, Spear's head, Letter, Book, Closed book, Open book, Page, Line, Key, Four crescents joined millsailwise, Hammer, Menorah, Number, Knot, Celtic Trinity knot, Water-bouget, Comb, Parchment, Piano, Millstone, Millrind, Millwheel, Clay pot, Bridge, Hourglass, Chess rooks, Compass rose, Rosette of acanthus leaves, Mullet of six points pierced, Broken, Portcullis, Wheel, Wagon-wheel, Symbol, Sackbut, Drum, Tower, Trident, Trumpet, Double vajra and Anvil.
Angel, Heart enflamed, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paschal lamb, Dragon, Wyvern, Phoenix, Garuda, Griffin, Sea-griffin, Winged hand, Our Lady of Mercy, Pegasus, Saint George, Mermaid, Trinity, Triton, Golden fleece, Unicorn and Ouroboros.
Cross, Cross of Alcantara, Cross of Calatrava, Cross of Montesa, Cross of Saint James, Cross couped, Quarterly per saltire, Outlined in sable, Emblem, Illuminated, Institution, Interpreted, Soft metal, Military, Religious, Royal Council of the Orders of Chivalry, Santiago, Order of, Socioeconomic and Freehand.
Dr. Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas,
,
Paseo de la Castellana 135,
7th floor,
28046 Madrid, Spain.