Las Órdenes militares de Calatrava y Santiago en el alto Guadalquivir (Siglos XIII-XV)

Abstract

Among the different Military Ordres settled in the High Guadalquivir we have to point out those of Calatrava and Santiago, owing to the importance of their patrimonies. This preponderant situation was shared with the four great councils of Jaen, Baeza, Ubeda, Andújar, and some seigniories which took part in the reconquest of the valley, forming part of the army of Fernando III of Castille. The participation of Calatrava and Santiago in the reconquest of the valley of the Guadalquivir provided them with a rich patrimony in such an area with several nucleus of authority. Those nucleus were Martos for the order of Calatrava and Segura de la Sierra for that of' Santiago, both in the Eastern part of the region. The formation of those seigniories, composed of several villages and scattered properties in the limits of the different councils, was due to the endowment of Fernando III and other kings of Castille, and to the endowments of different people or organizations; finally to the purchases and interchanges which were made by those Orders along the Later Middle Ages. Both patrimonies occupied different areas: the order of Calatrava was settled in the South-West of the bishopric of Jaén, and, it was submitted to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of that diocese. The order of Saniago was settled in Segura de la Sierra, watching the slopes of the rivers Guadalquivir and Segura, and, it was first submitted to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Segura and afterwards to that of Cartagena. Both orders had so me scattered properties in the different councils and some villages which were in the area of the Southern-Centre of that region. These areas are of a great economic benefit, situated in the frontier with the Moslems, which transformed to the Order of Calatrava, according to the facts of the 14th century, in the seigniory of highest incomes in the High Guadalquivir. Those incomes increased because they had a series of privileges and exemptions; for example they didn't pay tithes. It has been recorded in the different agreements which took place in the Bishopric of Jaen.