The order of Santiago was the first Masters Forty Pedro Fernandez, in the year 1170. His first action was to counter the attack of the Moors who ascediaban entire region of Cáceres, joining Fernando II of Leon, marching towards Coria for dirigirce direction Caceres, wrested from the Moors and to work toward the Castle of Badajoz in Almograf the banks of the Tagus.

Although it was not long without them the Muslims of Africa reinforcements arrived, the Almohads, in front of which was his Usuff Emir-Aben-Yacob. atacnado with such force that will soon be returned to any of Extremadura.

At this time the Knights of the Order of Santiago moved to Castille to get to the orders of King Alfonso VIII.

The town of Mora was the first possession of the order and before much time had passed and had conquered the castle of Alarilla, entering land from the Moors to reach Ruete, destrullendolo everything in its path.

Don Pedro Fernandez went to Rome for the pope would confirm the papal approval for his Order of Chivalry. Once on Castilla, Alfonso helped to recover what he had snatched Sancho V of Navarre in the lands of Rioja.

Cuenca also recovered, Alarcon and other populations, it was awarded the Order rich inheritance. It was around this time that, left the Master of Santiago Pedro Fernandez, along with some of his knights to the Holy Land in order to establish the order there too.
 
There is evidence that Bohemund, King of Antioch, in 1180 donated to the Master and several castles and manor places throughout the territory won from the Moors, but put a condition that the campaign should be undertaken immediately, which could not commit the teacher initiated the return to Spain.
 
The order followed the king Alfonso VIII to Andalusia, in the near Cordova met with the Knights of the Order of Calatrava, who argued that those territories under its jurisdiction. The Order of the reason Santagada accept and sign the perpetual peace and harmony with the Order of Calatrava, which ceded to the town of Alcobella and one hundred maravedises gold as proof of goodwill, as well as the town of Ocana. After they met with the Templars and Hospitallers, committed to providing mutual aid.

Time after the Order of Santiago was divided into two provinces, with two priors, San Marcos was under the kingdom of Leon, then Cordoba and Seville for the knights residing there.

Don Pedro Fernandez died in 1184. Coming after the long list of teachers.

Master the last number was forty Don Alonso de Cárdenas, 1476-1499. He was a man who loyally served the Catholic Monarchs, in with the Knights in Portugal more than fifteen miles, while the Portuguese king fought for Beltraneja.

Portugal in the battle of his companions did see the need to flee, taking advantage of the shadows of the night but the answer of the last teacher was the following "I do not turn their backs, by the way, these Moors, but they fled from your anger, Lord God, who was against us today and you punish our sins pleased with the hands of these people infidels. "

Hardly got a safe. But there were many of his comrades dead. Continued fighting in the war against Granada took a little while dying Don Alonso, with the last of the master of the Order of Santiago, as the Catholic Monarchs in 1493 declared the Order Administrators, by adding its Maestrazgo the Crown of Castile .

Masters of the Order of Santiago

Pedro Fernandez de Fuentencalada (1170-1184)
Fernando Díaz (1184-1186)
Sancho Fernández de Lemus (1186-1195). Died in the battle of Alarcos.
Gonzalo Rodríguez (1195-1203)
Gonzalo Ordóñez (1203-1204)
Suero Rodriguez (1204-1205)
Sancho Rodríguez (1205-1206)
Fernando Gonzalez de Marañón (1206-1210)
Pedro Arias (1210-1212). Died in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
García González Arauzo (1212-1217)
Peláez Martín Barragán (1217-1221)
García González Candamio (1221-1224)
Chacín Fernán Pérez (1224-1225)
Pedro Alonso (1225-1226)
Pedro Gonzalez (1226-1237)
Rodrigo Iñiguez (or Yáñez) (1237-1242)
Pelayo Perez Correa (1242-1275)
Gonzalo Ruiz Girón (1275-1277)
Pedro Nunez (1277-1286)
Gonzalo Martel (1286)
Pedro Fernández Mata (1286-1293)
Juan Osórez (1293-1311)
Diego Muñiz (1311-1318)
García Fernández (1318-1327)
Basque Rodriguez Coronado (1327-1338)
Basque Lopez (1338)
Alonso de Guzmán Meléndez (1338-1342)
Fadrique Alfonso of Castile (1342-1358)
Garci (or Doe) Alvarez de Toledo (1359-1366)
Gonzalo Mejía (1366-1371)
Fernando Osórez (1371-1383)
Pedro Fernández Cabeza de Vaca (1383-1384)
Rodrigo Mejía González (1384)
Pedro Muñiz de Godoy (1384-1385)
Villagarcia García Fernández (1385-1387)
Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa (1387-1409)
Enrique de Aragon (1409-1445)
Álvaro de Luna (1445-1453)
John II (1453) Administrator
Henry IV of Castile (1453-1462) Administrator
Beltran de la Cueva (1462-1463)
Alfonso of Castile (1463-1467)
Juan Pacheco (1467-1474)
Alonso de Cárdenas (1474-1476 in Leon) (first time)
Rodrigo Manrique (1474-1476 Castilla)
Ferdinand the Catholic (1476-1477) Administrator
Alonso de Cárdenas (1477-1493) (second time)
Reyes Católicos (1493 -...) Administrators. Final incorporation of Spain to the Crown during the reign of Charles I.