page_title: Saint James Matamoros
section_title: Namesakes
hierarchical_section_title: Saint James Matamoros / Namesakes
caption_attribution_description: Español: Iglesia de Matamoros.
context_page_description: Saint James the Moor-slayer is the name given to the representation of the apostle James, son of Zebedee as a legendary, miraculous figure who appeared at the also legendary Battle of Clavijo, helping the Christians conquer the Muslim Moors.
  The story was invented centuries after the alleged battle was supposed to have taken place. "Matamoros" is not a name nor an advocation of the saint. Aspects of the historical Battle of Monte Laturce were incorporated into this legend of the battle of Clavijo, as Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz demonstrated in 1948. Historian Jean Mitchell-Lanham says: "While this event is based on legend, the supposed battle has provided one of the strongest ideological icons in the Spanish national identity."
  In the 17th century, followers of his cult proposed the patronage of Spain under his name, in contrast to those who favored Teresa of Ávila. The Santiaguistas overcame and won this religious debate, naming him the Patron Saint of Spain, until November 1760 when Pope Clement XIII rescinded this honor and officially declared the Immaculate Conception as the patroness of Spain as a country, and installed the historical apostle James as patron of the Spaniards.
context_section_description: The Order of Santiago, a Spanish order of knighthood, originates from St. James' supposed involvement at the Battle of Clavijo. A wide number of Mexican settlements were named Matamoros by Spanish settlers in honour of their patron saint.
  Matamoros can also be found as a Hispanic family name, for instance Miguel Matamoros.
caption: Roman Catholic Church in the Mexican settlement of Matamoros, Coahuila.
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