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The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, The Templars, was founded in Jerusalem in 1118 whose aim was to protect those pilgrims who went to Holy Land. As time passes it became a powerful organization, they solidly constituted hierarchical, financial and militar structures. Its international nature (they depended on the Pope as a last resort) let them to help Christian Kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula in their fight aginst Arabs.
Jerez de los Caballeros was regained by King Alfonso IX de León to the Arabs, as a recognition of the help he donated the Village to the Templars in 1240
Under the protection of the Templars, Jerez and the surrounding zone, lived a period of splendor, and many people moved there. The area that the Templars dominated in Jerez de los Caballeros became one of the most important Templar zones in the Iberian Peninsula.
After a loss of prestige campaing organized by Phillip IV, King of France, who was seeking to gain the Templars' power and richness. The Templar Order was unfairly dissolved by Pope Clement V in 1312, and they were accused of heresy.
Even though Christian Kings did no believe in the accusations against the Templar, the had to obey Clement V's bull and ordered the Templars to renounce their engagment with the the order and give their possessions or they would be burnt at the stake as heretics.
The knights in Jerez refused the resignation from the Order, they had sworn loyalty for ever and decided to defend their land till death. They stood the fortress's siege until they were corned in the donjon, there finally were beheaded by royal troops and their bodies were thrown away from the merlons.
Bloody Tower in the Templar Fortress of Jerez
From that momment on this donjon is known as The Bloody Tower, and the spirit of those knights remains in the walls of the fortress.
Great Bustard - The queen of plains
Christian Easter celebrations in Cáceres
