El acervo archivístico de la Orden de San Juan de Jerusalén en Portugal

Abstract

Reflecting on the possibility of reconstructing archives and creating institutional memories is always a challenging exercise, greatly beneficial to historians by providing deeper insights into the past. The archival collection of the Order of St John of Jerusalem was gradually assembled, meeting the administrative, jurisdictional, and gov-ernance needs of this complex institution. From the 14th century onward, central government bodies issued guide-lines to regulate document production, revealing significant organizational aspirations. The Hospitallers' archival collection in Portugal was dispersed, mirroring the Order's property structure, and was significantly affected by both intentional and unintentional destruction. These circumstances led to the loss of much documentation and neces-sitated ongoing reorganization, as the collection gradually lost its administrative role and acquired a more historical dimension.