Order of the Dove

The Order of the Dove (Spanish: Orden de la Paloma, also the Order of the Pigeon), was a short lived military order formed by King Juan I of Castile in 1379 to defend the Catholic faith and the kingdom of Castile. The order dissolved after only one year, but was known for its large feasts which included eating the organization's namesake: pigeon.^[1] The cause for the downfall of the order: honorable men to become part of the membership.The Spanish word Paloma, used to refer both doves and pigeons and pigeon meat, had a reputation attached to promiscuity.^[2]

References

1. "Monuments to the Birds: Dovecotes and Pigeon Eating in the Land of Fields". Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture (University of California Press) 5 (2): 50–59. Spring 2005. doi:10.1525/gfc.2005.5.2.50.
2. Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne (2009). The History of Food (2 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 308.