Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus
Real Colegiata de San Hipólito

Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Region	Andalusia
Patron	Saint Hyppolytus of Rome
Location
Location	Córdoba, Spain
Country	Spain
Architecture
Architectural style	Gothic and Baroque
Groundbreaking	1343
Completed	1736

The Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus (known as Real Colegiata de San Hipólito in Spanish) is a Catholic church in Córdoba, Spain. King Alfonso XI of Castile started building it in 1343. This church is special because it holds the tombs, or burial places, of King Ferdinand IV of Castile and his son, King Alfonso XI. Later, the church was given to the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, forever.

History of the Church
Royal Tombs
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

The Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus was part of a monastery. King Alfonso XI of Castile founded it in 1343. He built it to celebrate a big victory. This victory was the Battle of Salado in 1340, where Christian armies won. The king wanted this church to be his final resting place. He also wanted his father, King Ferdinand IV, to be buried there. Ferdinand IV had died in 1312 and was buried in the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.

Becoming a Collegiate Church

On August 1, 1347, Pope Clement VI made the church a "collegiate church." This meant it was a special church with a group of priests. They would perform important religious services. These services were held to remember the kings. King Alfonso really admired Saint Hippolytus. On October 2, he ordered priests in Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda to hold special masses. These masses were for his ancestors. A special mass was always held on Saint Hippolytus's feast day. This day was also King Alfonso's birthday.

Building the Church

Building the church took a very long time. Only the apse (the rounded end of the church) and the crossing (where the main parts of the church meet) were finished during the reigns of Alfonso XI and his son, King Peter I of Castile. The rest of the church was not completed until the 1700s. In 1729, construction started again. King Philip V of Spain agreed to this. Seven years later, in 1736, the main building was finished. Other parts were added in the 1700s and 1800s.

Changes Over Time

During the time of Queen Isabel II of Spain, the church lost its "collegiate church" title. However, people still call it by that name. It stayed open for religious services. In the late 1800s, the church was given to the Jesuits forever. The Jesuits still manage the church today.

Royal Tombs

The Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus is famous for holding the tombs of two kings. These are King Ferdinand IV and his son, King Alfonso XI.

King Ferdinand IV's Burial

King Ferdinand IV died in Jaén in September 1312. A few days later, his body was moved to Córdoba. On September 13, he was buried in a chapel inside the Mosque-Cathedral. Originally, he was supposed to be buried somewhere else. He could have been buried at the Toledo Cathedral near his father, Sancho IV of Castile. Or he could have been buried in the Seville Cathedral near his grandfather, Alfonso X of Castile. But it was very hot in September. So, his wife, Queen Constance of Portugal, and his brother, Peter of Castile, Lord of Cameros, decided to bury him closer. They chose the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba.

King Alfonso XI's Burial

King Alfonso XI died in March 1350. He died during the Great Plague at the Fifth Siege of Gibraltar. His body was first buried in the Royal Chapel at the Seville Cathedral. This was near his ancestors. But King Alfonso had wanted to be buried in the Church of Saint Hippolytus, next to his father. In 1371, his son, Henry II of Castile, ordered his father's body to be moved. It was placed in the Royal Chapel at the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, next to King Ferdinand IV.

Moving the Tombs to Saint Hippolytus

The tombs of both kings stayed in the Royal Chapel for many years. Then, on the evening of August 8, 1736, they were moved. They were finally placed in the Church of Saint Hippolytus, as King Alfonso XI had wished.

On May 12, 2008, the church was recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural. This means it is a very important Spanish cultural property.