In the course of doing my family research, there was a phrase that kept coming up again and again.
This phrase was “El Orden de Santiago” which means the Order of Santiago.
According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, the Spanish Orden de Santiago is a Christian military-religious order of knights founded about 1160 in Spain.
This order was founded for the purpose of fighting Spanish Muslims and of protecting pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela.
They were originally called the Order of Cáceres, after the city in which it was founded, the order assumed the Santiago name in 1171.
The first time I came across this Order was while researching for my 14th great grandfather Andres de Tapia. He was one of the first conquistadors that came with Hernan Cortez to Mexico int he early 1500’s.
Another instance that I came across this Order was while researching my 12th great grandfather Vicente de Zaldivar.
Fortunately for me, I recently found the Order of Santiago applications at FamilySearch.
They are over 140 microfilms!
Thankfully they have been digitized and are available for viewing using the links below.
The great thing about these applications is that some of them contain a few hundred pages and other up to over a thousand pages.
Some of these records contain wills and almost all of them contain genealogy information.
They even contain accounts of witnesses as to the quality of the applicant can be found.
Links by Last Name, the Order of Santiago, 1501-1799
Below look at the “Apellidos” (last names) in order to browse through the microfilms.
Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Abad a Ezquerra
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/630488
Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Fagoaga a Lles
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/669508
Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Macarty a Prado Ulloa
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/474763
Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Prado Ulloa a Velasco y Ceballos
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/577092
Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Velasco y Ceballos hasta Zurucelaegui y Arriola
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/392761
Genealogy of Vicente de Zaldivar y Mendozade – 1626
I found the application for my 11th great grand uncle, Vicente de Zaldivar y Mendoza.
His parents, Vicente de Zaldivar and Magdalena de Mendoza are my 12th great grandparents.
Among the images of his application, I found the following document.
It mentions the names of his grandparents through both maternal and paternal sides.
As you can see it is a genealogical treasure and the information included in these applications can be invaluable.
Finally, even if you don’t find anything about your own ancestors in them it is good to know that they exist.
You just never know when you may need them or when you may find a clue pointing you to them.
Sources:
- Zaldivar y Mendoza, Vicente de 1626, FamilySearch, Film # 008181008, Image 740
Dear Mr. Garza
we are keen to reconstruct the history of Orden Santiago in the caribbean. We would like to collaborate.
we have finished a reconstruction of the Order of St. John.
kindly respond
smoch.org
How can I be of help?
i REALLY DON’T HAVE TIME DUE THAT MY SON IS STILL VERY ILL. WHAT WOULD IT COST ME TO HAVE SOME DO ALL FOR ME. AND YES WE HAVE FAMILY jiminez and yes we have relatives married at san fernando.i am on ancestery.com iam spanish and jewish and native i am 46 native.can u help me are refere me. I am 74yrs old i am not good on computors or my spelling.,
Moises, Thank you so much for you hard work. I have been able to find many generations of my ancestors due to the sources you have linked to.
I am glad to hear it.
Vicente de Zaldivar and Magdalena Mendoza came to New Mexico with Onate. Did all their progeny go back to Mexico? Some of us say we are also descendants of this couple.
My line did but I am not sure of the rest.
Distant cousins have found records of our ancestors that were in the order, but from many years prior to 1500. Fernando Osorez born about 1325 in Reino de León (Castilla y León, España). Juan de Villasenor y Serones born about 1415 in Obispado de Burgos (Castilla y León, España) and Diego de Orozco born in 1455 in Reinos de Castilla (España).
That is awesome.
I Have Recently Found Out That Alfonso Fernández De Villasenor Born In 1343 Is My 21st Great Grandfather & Elvira Osorez Is My Grandmother & If Im Not Mistaken Fernando Is My 22nd Grandfather. Do You Have Any Recommendations On Where I Can Find More Information Of These People ?
Try Google Books maybe someone wrote a genealogy about them.
I do know that King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Queen Eleonor of England Queen of Castile were my ancestors. As were their parents Sancho III of Castile and Blanca de Navarre Queen of Castile, Henry II King of England and Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine. I do not know of any knights being my ancestors at this time, perhaps.
Moises, again we have common ancestors: General Vicente Zaldivar Onate and Magdalena de Mendoza. I am a descendant through their daughter Ana.
If the applicant, Vicente, is your uncle then which of Vicente and Magdalena's children do you descend?