Did you know that Spain’s current king also holds the title of King of Jerusalem? Here’s the fascinating story as to why.
Not many people know that the King of Spain actually also inherits the title of King of Jerusalem, which Israel and the Palestinians both claim as their capital.
The story begins in 1095, when Pope Urban II asked European knights for help in taking up arms and assisting Christians in the Middle East who were suffering persecution.
This was particularly the case in Jerusalem, where Jesus is said to have been crucified. It was no longer safe for Christians to live there or pilgrims to travel there, so people asked for outside help.
In response the First Crusade was born, a series of military campaigns, which aimed to liberate the so-called Holy Land.
It took the Europeans four years to reconquer the city. In the end it was partly thanks to Godfrey of Bouillon, a French soldier who managed to unify the troops and break the final 40-day siege.
To thank him for his help in freeing the city, the Christians wanted to name him King of Jerusalem. He, however refused, saying that he could never wear a crown in the same place as Jesus had worn a crown of thorns.
So, Bouillon was awarded the title Sancti Sepulchri advocatus or protector of the Holy Places instead.
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Godfrey was succeeded by his brother, Baldwin who wanted the title King Baldwin I of Jerusalem as well. Thus, all the kings after him also inherited this title.
Fast-forward to 1187 and Jerusalem was conquered by Saladin, a Muslim ruler and warrior. Because the Christians no longer had control of the city, they only managed to hold on to a small piece of land called Saint Jean d’Acre, which today is the coastal city of Acre in Israel.
They held this land and continued to pass down the title of King of Jerusalem until 1291, when the kingdom of Jerusalem, which included Acre, fell to the the Mamluks and was abolished. The surviving Crusaders and Christian population fled to Cyprus.
The title of King of Jerusalem, however, continued a symbolic status.
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It was eventually passed down to Charles I of Anjou, who was also King of Sicily – which later became the Kingdom of Naples.
When Spanish general Gonzálo Fernández de Córdoba won the Battle of Garellano in 1503, he took Naples under the Spanish crown and thus the title of King of Jerusalem was passed on to the King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who famously united the Spanish kingdoms.
Although the title was only symbolic, the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella did insist on protecting the Holy Land by donating money to help maintain the buildings and the Catholic community in Jerusalem.
They also donated the silver star on the manger the sacred Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where Jesus is said to have been born. Today, Bethlehem is located in West Bank, part of Palestine.
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To this day, every January 30th, a mass is held in the church in honour of the current King of Spain on his birthday. Felipe VI has travelled to the area on several occasions and is also trying to help protect the people there.
Recently Felipe VI pleased with Israel to “stop the massacre” and end its “abhorrent acts” in Gaza during a moving speech to the UN general assembly.
“These are abhorrent acts that are the very opposite of everything that this forum represents. They sicken the human conscience and shame the entire international community,” he said
