The Krewe of the
Knights of Sant’ Yago
Chartered in 1972, the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of Tampa’s rich Latin heritage and culture. Comprised of 250 of the Tampa Bay area’s professional men, the Krewe of Sant’ Yago is represented each year by our Rey (King) and his Reina (Queen), and their Royal Court of Damas de la Corte (Ladies-in-Waiting), Courtesanos, Pages, Attendants, Crown Bearers, and Royal Sword Bearer.
Just as the Cofradia de Caballeros de la Orden Real de Sant’ Yago in Spain has contributed to the growth and prosperity of that country, so too, the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago has dedicated itself to the perpetuation and enhancement of Tampa’s proud Latin heritage, culture and mores. The Krewe dedicates itself to the continued improvement of life and cultural progress in the City of Tampa and its surroundings.
The germination of the idea of the Knights of the Krewe of Sant’ Yago was in 1970. After many years of conversations as to the need to preserve the Latin culture in Tampa, five men met at the old Las Novedades Restaurant. Dr. Henry J. Fernandez, who called the five men together, was joined by Cesar Gonzmart, Joseph R. Lopez, Daniel F. Martinez and Joe C. Granda.
The initial meetings were to decide if enough interest could be generated to form a first-class organization. As more men joined, meetings were held weekly and they soon numbered 15 influential citizens. It appeared that the organization had a good chance of success. These meetings continued… and in 1972, these 15 members became the Board of Directors. Bylaws were drawn up and officers were elected. Each member of the Board was tasked with bringing in four members. The idea was to form a charter membership of 75 men.
In September of 1972, the first formal gathering of the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago was held at the Columbia Restaurant. The party was a great success. Our first Coronation was held in January of 1973, when Phil LoCicero, El Rey I, and La Reina I, Mary Frances Mandes (Ledo) were crowned.. Since then, the Krewe has grown to 250 members. We maintain that limited membership in order to preserve the closeness, fellowship and brotherhood that exists with the Krewe to this day.
The Legend of Santiago
Our story begins when four fishermen, Peter, Andrew, John and James, abandoned their nets on the banks of Lake Galilee to follow Jesus Christ.
After the crucifixion of Christ, these disciples dispersed to carry on his teachings throughout the Mediterranean. James, it is said, sailed to Spain, landing in Galicia, where he preached on the rock- strewn shore and where, today, fishermen claim his footprints are still visible. From Galicia, he journeyed back to Jerusalem and to martyrdom.
He was killed by King Herod I in the year 44 and his body was placed on a rudderless ship without sails. Guided by angels, it drifted back to Galicia. There, legend has it, he was laid on a huge stone and miraculously was absorbed as though the stone were soft wax. For 800 years, the location was lost and almost forgotten.
It was during the reign of Alfonso II, called the Chaste (791-842) that a hermit monk named Pelayo saw an enormous star hovering over the hills. He followed it and came to a field ablaze with little stars burning in the brush. There in the undergrowth, he discovered a small shrine: an altar and a sarcophagus. It was the lost tomb of Santiago, or St. James.
This discovery created a sensation throughout Christendom and was hailed as a miracle. As the tales of miracles associated with the spot multiplied, more pilgrims flocked to the site.
More important for the future of Spain, it became an emotional rallying point for the Christians struggle against the Moors. On the battlefields, the cry was “Santiago y a ellos!” (“Santiago and at ‘em!”) Every soldier knew the story of the battle of Clavijo. It was said that Santiago descended from the sky on a brilliant, white charger. He carried a banner with a red cross on a milk-white field and wielded a never-resting sword with which he killed 60,000 Moors that day.
By the end of the millennium, the Moors were gone from northern Spain. Santiago de Compostela (St. James, of the Starry Field) became the holiest place in Western Europe. Early Christians dreamed of salvation through pilgrimage to this Holy site.
The success of Santiago was unimaginable. Hundreds of thousands flocked there every year for over 500 years, regardless of war, plague or famine. The road to Santiago was so crowded that it became known as the Milky Way.
St. Francis of Assisi went there, performing miracles along the way. El Cid wore scallop shells (the symbol of Santiago) on his wrist and Henry I put them on his coat of arms. Ferdinand and Isabella went, as did Edward I. Robert I of Scotland couldn’t go but requested that his heart be carried there in a silver casket after his death. Chaucer’s Wife of Bath and Shakespeare’s John of Gaunt made the pilgrimage. Dante mentions it and William the Conqueror rode into the Battle of Hastings on a horse that had made the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims walked 30 to 40 miles a day over mountain roads, often doing the last mile on their knees. (This is still done to this day.) Their hardships were alleviated by a system of hospices and hospitals and a general belief among the Spaniards that those who helped a pilgrim shared in his blessings.
The Knights of Sant’ Yago were formed to protect these pilgrims from highwaymen and others who preyed on the travelers.
“1175” The Year of Unification
In 1175, two cities in Spain led by Warrior Kings challenged each other for the Honor and glory of being the “seat” of the Orden de Sant’ Yago. One of these cities was León. The other was Castile.
Because of this rift between factions, many cities were underdefended and often attacked by the Moors. For this reason, the Christian victory over the Moors was delayed and something needed to be done. Each side saw themselves as the rightful head of the order.
The Knights of León elected D. Sancho Fernandez as their leader while the Knights of Castile chose D. Fernando Diaz to lead them. To unite the order, and in the true spirit of brotherhood, Diaz resigned, and his Knights accepted the authority of Fernandez.
Many orders of the period followed the rule of the Benedictines which was as severe as it was strict. Being smarter than that, the Knights of Sant’ Yago chose the milder and much less restrictive Canons of St. Augustine. (It even allowed them to marry).
At that point they offered their services to protect the pilgrims and hospices on the roads leading to Compostela and the Shrine of Saint James (Sant’ Yago).
By adopting these less stringent methods, the order grew and spread. At its peak it held more possessions then the other orders combined. This included 83 Commanderies, 178 boroughs and villages, 200 parishes, 2 cities, 5 hospitals, 5 covenants and 1 college just in Spain. They also had holdings in Portugal, France, Italy, Hungary, and the Holy Land.
Today, the brotherhood has grown to include our group here in the United States, and which remains the only chartered Order of Saint James in this country.
Inscription:
In 1175, Pope Alexander III, authorized "La Orden Real Sant' Yago" to protect the Pilgrims' Way to the shrine of Santiago (St. James), at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. Among the Spanish conquerors of America, Ponce De Leon, Panfilo De Narvaez and Hernando De Soto were members.
In 1972, Ybor City civic leaders, Dr. Henry Fernandez, Cesar Gonzmart, Joe Granda, Joe Lopez, and Daniel Martinez obtained the first charter of the Order in America. The Krewe is dedicated to the preservation of Latin traditions in Tampa. The Columbia Restaurant is Krewe headquarters. Many of its functions are held here.
(The Centro Asturiano de Tampa is now the Krewe headquarters)
