Military order with its origins in a group of Calatrava knights to whom King Afonso Henriques (c.1109-1185) of Portugal gave estates in Évora in 1175-1176.
In 1211, they settle in Avis on estates granted by King Afonso II of Portugal. From then on they seem to have gained their own autonomy as the Order of Avis.
King Pedro of Portugal appoints his illegitimate son João as master of the order in 1364. This is the future João I of Portugal.
Prolonged war (CW) through small actions such as assaults to castles or to soldiers on their way, robberies (normally cattle), combats betweens small unities (sudden or programmed by one of the parts involved). In strategy, it could be compared to modern “guerrilla war”.