Blog #2: After the Templar Dissolution By Sylvia Anginotti When t he Order of Christ was created from the remnants of the Knights Templar in Portugal, it lost the international status that the Knights Templar had enjoyed under the pope . The Order now owed its allegiance to the Kings of Portugal and was subject to the religious control of the Bishop of Aljubarrota. Later, during the reign of King John I of Portugal the Order of Christ returned to the city of T o mar and the Castle that the Knights Templar had built in 1160. King John’s third son. Prince Henry, was made Governor of the Order. He was the first s ecular leader of the Order and brought it under the control of the monarchy. Prince Henry introduced fresh ideas to the role of the Order. They brought Christianity to the land of the Moors and discover ed the secrets of the Silk Route which linked Europe with the Middle East and Asia . The route transported luxury goods, such as silk and spices from pla...