The Order of Saint James is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the 12th century in Spain. It was established to protect pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela. The order played a significant role in the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Members of the Order, known as Knights of Saint James, were dedicated to both military and spiritual duties. They took vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and their emblem features a scallop shell, symbolizing pilgrimage. The order continues to exist today, focusing on charitable works and promoting the legacy of Saint James.