Order of Mountjoy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Order of Mountjoy Orden de Monte Gaudio
The order emblem
Type	Catholic military order
Religious affiliation	Catholic

The Order of Mountjoy (also known as the Order of Trufac) was a special group of knights. They were a military order during the time of the crusades. These orders were like a mix of soldiers and monks.

What Was the Order of Mountjoy?

The Order of Mountjoy was created to protect Christian travelers. These travelers were often going on pilgrimages, especially in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). The order was founded around the year 1180.

How the Order Started

A count from Galicia named Rodrigo Álvarez started the order. This happened in the kingdom of Aragon, specifically at a castle called Alfambra in 1174. Later, the order also became active in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade.

Rodrigo Álvarez was originally part of the Order of Santiago. He first set up the Order of Mountjoy in Castile and Aragon. Then, he brought it to the kingdom of Jerusalem. Their main base in Jerusalem was on a hill called Montjoie. This hill was important because it was where the first crusaders saw Jerusalem for the first time. That's why the order was named "Mountjoy," which means "mountain of joy."

Rules and Emblem

The Order of Mountjoy followed rules similar to the Cistercian monks. It was mainly a Spanish order. The special sign or emblem of the order was a cross. This cross had both red and white colors.

Battles and Changes

Knights from the Order of Mountjoy fought in the Battle of Hattin in 1187. This was a very difficult battle, and sadly, none of the knights from the order survived it.

Later, around 1196, some members were unhappy with their leader, Master Fralmo. This led to changes within the order. A new group called the Order of Monfragüe was formed in Castile. The part of the order that was in Aragon joined with the Knights Templar.

In 1221, Ferdinand III of Castile decided to combine the Order of Monfragüe with the Order of Calatrava. This meant the Order of Mountjoy, in its original form, no longer existed.

Later Influence

Even after it merged, the idea of the Order of Mountjoy lived on. When the Knights Templar were shut down, there was a suggestion to bring back the Order of Mountjoy. This idea partly inspired the creation of the Order of Montesa in 1317.

See also

In Spanish: Orden de Monte Gaudio para niños