Fernando Afonso of Portugal (1135 – 1 March 1207) was the twelfth
Grand Master of the
Knights Hospitaller
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), is a Catholic military order. It was founded in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century and had headquarters there ...
, serving between 1202–1206. He was the oldest son of
Afonso Henriques, the first king of the
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was a Portuguese monarchy, monarchy in the western Iberian Peninsula and the predecessor of the modern Portuguese Republic. Existing to various extents between 1139 and 1910, it was also known as the Kingdom of Portugal a ...
. Fernando would never inherit the crown as he was born out of wedlock. He formally succeeded the interim Grand Master
Pierre de Mirmande installed after the death of
Geoffroy de Donjon. He resigned in 1206 and was succeeded by
Geoffroy le Rat.
[Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). " St John of Jerusalem, Knights of the Order of the Hospital of". ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. 24. (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 12–19.]
Biography
Fernando Afonso was for a short period of time ''alferes-mor'' of the Kingdom of Portugal. He then proceeded to join the
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a Military order (religious society), military order of the Catholic Church, Catholic faith, and one of the most important military ord ...
, followed later on by the
Knights Hospitaller
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), is a Catholic military order. It was founded in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century and had headquarters there ...
. He became Master of the Knights Hospitaller in the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
in 1198, as part of the
Langue de Castille, León and Portugal. He then became Grand Master of the Order in 1202. A few years later he renounced his position as Grand Master and returned to Portugal.
Not being able to make himself obeyed by the knights of the Order, they reproached him for having held the general chapter in the fortress of
Margat outside the kingdom of Jerusalem, a reproach of very poor quality. The reason for this is rather that he had not held any responsibility in the Order. The only highlight of his magisterium was the promulgation of a new statute drawn up during the General Chapter, for which he was reproached. He eventually resigned from his office.
The last act is dated 1206 and the first act of his successor is also dated 1206, so it can be estimated that he gave up his office in mid-1206. This is the second time in the history of the Order that a Grand Master resigned. He retired to Portugal where he died on 1 March 1207, allegedly poisoned. He was succeeded by
Geoffrey le Rat.
Burial
His remains were buried in
Santarém, at the
Church of São João de Alporão.
See also
* ''
Cartulaire général de l'Ordre des Hospitaliers''
*
List of Knights Hospitaller sites
*
Langue (Knights Hospitaller)
*
Flags of the Knights Hospitaller
References
Bibliography
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External links
*
Alphonse de Portugal (grand maître). French Wikipedia.
*
Liste des grands maîtres de l'ordre de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem. French Wikipedia.
*Eugène Harot
Essai d’armorial des Grands-Maîtres de l’Ordre de Saint Jean de JérusalemSeals of the Grand Masters Museum of the Order of St John.
*Charles Moeller,
Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem. ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1910). 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
{{s-end
1135 births
1207 deaths
People from Coimbra
12th-century Portuguese people
13th-century Portuguese people
Portuguese knights
Knights Hospitaller
Grand masters of the Knights Hospitaller
People of the Reconquista
Portuguese people of French descent
Portuguese people of Spanish descent
Sons of kings