ABSTRACT
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the monarchy had been the great promoter of establishing and developing the Order of St John in the Crown of Castile, granting it several donations and privileges. During this period, the order, on its part, generally acted as an instrument of royal power in Castile. However, by the second half of the thirteenth century, it had gradually begun to lose this royal patronage. It would appear that in the later Middle Ages, the kings of Castile no longer desired any further growth of such property within their territories. Hospitaller loyalty to Castile may perhaps be explained in terms of the pervasive influence the monarchy exercised over the priory, especially in matters of appointments and promotions. It is perhaps interesting to observe that in matters pertaining to the Hospital in Castile, it was the pope, rather than the master, who addressed the monarchy on behalf of the order.
