The reign of Ferdinand III (1217–1252) coincided with the origins and development of the mendicant orders in Castile. The two great institutions of the Franciscans and Dominicans shared with the king a common cause, and the striking geographical expansion which resulted from their itinerant pastoral activism, apostolic zeal, and evangelizing missionary purpose was in tune with the major political concerns of a monarch who dramatically expanded Castilian territory. The institutional structures and ideals of the new orders are well known. According to tradition, Ferdinand so identified with their proposals that he became a tertiary Franciscan. But what type of relationship did Ferdinand have with them and how should we assess it? Answers to these questions require us to analyse the religious actions of the king in terms of his political agenda as he developed ties between the crown and mendicant friars and nuns.

First Ties between the Mendicants and the Crown

The traditions of mendicant historiography have aimed to link the Hispanic origins of Franciscans and Dominicans with the monarchy. The chronicles describe this relationship with the Castilian monarchs at the outset because the friars must have sought their permission in order to found their houses. In some cases the chroniclers described the presentation of letters of recommendation from Pope Honorius III, although today there is only actual evidence of letters addressed to the Hispanic clergy in favour of the Dominicans.