Order of the Dove

The Order of the Dove (Spanish: Orden de la Paloma, meaning Order of the Pigeon, as the Spanish word paloma is used to refer both doves and pigeons), was a short lived military order which lasted only for a year. It was created by King Juan I of Castile in 1379 to defend the Catholic faith and the Kingdom of Castile.

Oil paint dating from the 19th century exposed in the Congress of Deputies of Madrid, showing the necklace of the Order, which contains a pigeon.

History

It had been doubted in the past which king of the Kingdom of Castile had created the order (another option being Henry III of Castile in 1399). The order was dissolved next year of its creation, but regardless of its short life, it became known due to its large feasts which mostly included eating pigeon[1] (the order's namesake).

In fact, those large feasts consisting on eating pigeon meat and the name of the order itself were actually the cause for its downfall.

Only honorable men could become knights of a military order, but the fact is that pigeon, even though popularly eaten, did not have a distinctive reputation, as the pigeon was attached to promiscuity.[2]

The insignia of the order was a chain necklace with an open wing pigeon.

References
  1. Canova, Jane (Spring 2005). "Monuments to the Birds: Dovecotes and Pigeon Eating in the Land of Fields". Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture. University of California Press. 5 (2): 50–59. doi:10.1525/gfc.2005.5.2.50. JSTOR 10.1525/gfc.2005.5.2.50.
  2. Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne (2009). The History of Food (2 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 308. ISBN 9781444305142.
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