Founded in 1318, the Military Order of Christ ((previously Real) Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo) was the heritage of the
Knights Templar in
Portugal, after the suppression of the Templars in 1312. Under heavy influence from
Philip IV of France,
Pope Clement V had the order annihilated throughout
France and most of
Europe on charges of
heresy, but King
Denis of Portugal, forced by the Pope who found that the Order's assets should for their nature stay in any given Order instead of being taken by the King, re-instituted the Templars of
Tomar as the Order of Christ, largely for their aid during the
Reconquista and in the reconstruction of Portugal after the wars. King Denis negotiated with Pope Clement's successor
John XXII for the new order's recognition and right to inherit the Templar assets and property.
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