Roman Catholic Diocese of Salamanca
The celebrated bishop, comrade of the Cid Campeador, died in 1120 and was interred in the newly built basilica, to which he left the "Christ of the Battles" (Cristo de las Batallas).In October, 1310, the see being vacant, fifteen prelates of the ancient Province of Lusitania, presided over by the Archbishop of Santiago, assembled in the cathedral of Salamanca to try the case of the Knights Templar, and found them innocent in Spain of all the atrocities with which they were charged.Later on he became subservient to the caprices of Pedro I the Cruel and annulled (1354) his marriage with Blanche of Bourbon in order to unite him with Juana de Castro.In May, 1382, a council was held at Salamanca to take action in the matter of the schism of Avignon, and Castile decided in favour of the antipope.At this time Vincent Ferrer laboured to convert the Jews of Salamanca; from 1460 to 1478 John of Sahagun preached in the diocese.