Order of Christ (Portugal)

The Military Order of Christ (Ordem Militar de Cristo), previously the Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo), is the former Knights Templar order as it is reconstituted in Portugal after the Templars are abolished on March 22, 1312 by the papal bull, Vox in excelso, issued by Pope Clement V

The Order of Christ is founded in 1319, with the protection of the Portuguese king, Denis I, who refuses to pursue and persecute the former knights as has occurred in all the other sovereign states under the political influence of the Catholic Church.

Heavily swayed by Philip IV of France, Pope Clement has the Knights Templar annihilated throughout France and most of Europe on charges of heresy, but Denis revives 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.

Denis negotiates with Clement's successor, John XXII, for recognition of the new order and its right to inherit the Templar assets and property.

There exists also a parallel Supreme Order of Christ of the Holy See.

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