Templars in Toledo

The Order of the Temple became involved in Spanish affairs in 1134, when Alfonso I of Aragon left part of his kingdom to them in his will. They quickly became favorites of Peninsular monarchs, who showered the Order with gifts of properties. The kings of Aragon and Castilla-León tried to involve the Templars in the defense of their borders with Al-Andalus.

Though the Templars willingly involved themselves in the affairs of the Christian kingdoms, they generally viewed Jerusalem and the Holy Land as their main area of activity. Western Europe was a place to raise funds and recruit soldiers. Therefore, the Templars gradually gave much of their Spanish property, especially castles and towns along the frontier, to the native military orders, which were inspired by the Templars. Moreover, the Templars in Spain gradually became very much a native group themselves, with Spanish-born knights and clerics, who attended to Spanish affairs first, and the larger business of the Order second.

So it is therefore not suprising that the Templars had a presence in Toledo. The area immediately to the east of the Alcázar was the headquarters for the Order here, and presumably in the kingdom of Castilla. Not a lot remains: there is one house which was part of their compound (pictured above), and the lower level of the church of San Miguel (mostly baroque, pictured below) contains what was a Templar cloister. There is a nighttime tour of these buildings which I would like to take, if I can ever find a schedule.