Almagro to host historic 1158 document regarding the Order of Calatrava

An 868-year-old historical document, a papal bull from 1158, is being temporarily exhibited in Almagro, Spain. The manuscript, which is normally kept in the National Historical Archive, will be displayed at the Church of San Agustín on September 19 and 20, 2026.

The document records the donation made by King Sancho III of Castile to the Cistercian Abbot Raimundo de Fitero. This grant included the village of Calatrava and its rights, intended to facilitate the defense and settlement of the Castle of Calatrava during a period of political and military instability following the death of Alfonso VII.

The exhibition is part of the commemorations for the 868th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Calatrava. The manuscript is considered a fundamental piece for understanding the origins of the Military Order of Calatrava and the territorial and religious context of 12th-century Castile.