"One of the religious orders of Spanish knighthood, was founded as a military fraternity for the defense of Estremadura against the Moors. In 1197, Pope Celestine III. raised it to the rank of a religious order of knighthood; bestowed great privileges on it, and charged it with the defense of the Christian faith." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Alcantara

"One of the religious orders of Spanish knighthood, was founded as a military fraternity for the defense…