Los componentes defensivos de las fortalezas templarias en la Corona de Aragón. Encomiendas fortificadas y castillos en la frontera del Ebro (mitad del siglo XII-1294)

Abstract

Knights Templars played a key role in the Reconquista of north-eastern territories of Iberian Peninsula. From the will of Alfonso I “el Batallador” till 1294, they gained a very large number of castles and fortified commanderies strategically placed all along the border between northern reigns of the Corona of Aragon (Aragon and Cataluña) and southern taifas of al-Andalus. After the dissolution of the Order in 1308, much of them passed to new Military Orders or to sovereigns’ hands and continued to operate like strongholds for all the Modern Era until last century war events. Monzón, Gardeny, Miravet, Xivert and Peñíscola are only some of these sites where, fortunately, archaeological excavations and new archival and historical studies give the possibility to bring them again to attention by reviewing them chronologies and comparing updates and technological gaps in the context of military architecture of Outremere crusader castles.