Order of Aviz

Originally a Portuguese military order created to defend the Iberian frontier. It maintained close ties with Spanish Reconquista campaigns along the border regions.

The Order of Aviz, originally known as the Order of Évora, was a Portuguese military order founded around 1162 to defend the newly established Kingdom of Portugal against Muslim forces. It took its more famous name from the town of Aviz, which was granted to the order by King Afonso II in 1211.

While primarily a Portuguese institution, the Order of Aviz maintained important connections with the Spanish kingdoms throughout the Reconquista. The frontier between Portugal and Spain was fluid and often contested, and the knights of Aviz frequently collaborated with Spanish military orders in campaigns against Muslim strongholds.

The order's most significant moment came when Grand Master João, later King João I, founded the Aviz dynasty that would rule Portugal for over a century and launch the Age of Discoveries. This elevation of a military order's leader to the throne demonstrates the enormous political power these organizations wielded. The order's cross-border influence makes it an important part of the broader Iberian crusading story.

Notable sites

• Aviz Fortress

Where the order was active

• extremadura
• andalucia