MA 013 Knight of the Order of Calatrava

Knight of the Order of Calatrava – Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212)

The Knight of the Order of Calatrava represents one of the most iconic military orders of medieval Spain. Founded in the 12th century, the Order of Calatrava played a decisive role during the Reconquista, fighting alongside the Christian kingdoms against the Almohad Caliphate.

Although the red cross of the Order of Calatrava is its best-known emblem today, historical sources indicate that during the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) many Calatrava knights wore a black cross as a sign of mourning. This commemorated the loss of their fortress of Calatrava la Vieja, which had fallen to the Almohads after the Battle of Alarcos (1195), seventeen years earlier. Tradition holds that they vowed not to wear their red crosses again until they had recovered their ancestral stronghold.

This battle also marked the origin of another famous Spanish medieval symbol. According to tradition, King Sancho VII of Navarre broke through the chain barrier protecting the tent of the Almohad Caliph, Muhammad al-Nasir (Miramamolín). In remembrance of this feat, the chains became the emblem of the Kingdom of Navarre, replacing the earlier heraldic eagle.

Our Knight of the Order of Calatrava is a handcrafted 60 mm toy soldier, sculpted and hand-painted in Spain using premium acrylic paints and finished with a protective varnish. It is an ideal piece for collectors of medieval toy soldiers, the Reconquista, and the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.

This figure is part of our Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa collection, dedicated to one of the most decisive events of the Reconquista and one of the greatest victories in medieval Spanish history.