D. Manuel, Duke of Beja and grandson-nephew of Infante D. Henrique, received the Mastery dignity of the Order of Christ around 1485, after the passing of his brother, D. Diogo, Duke of Viseu, Governor and Keeper of that chivalry order.
After the death King John II´s son and heir - Infante D. Afonso - in 1491, D. Manuel, his cousin and brother-in-law, is appointed heir to the Portuguese throne. Thus King Manuel is Governor and Keeper of the Order of Christ and King of Portugal between 1495 and 1521. During this period, the Militia of Christ has an unparalleled involvement in the royal policy of maritime expansion.
This involvement is manifested in the designation of friar knights of the Militia as sea captains as well as of discovered or conquered lands. Also, new commendations were ordered within the kingdom and in overseas territories. The first thirty commendations of Tomar occurred in 1503 for sites in Africa, to be provided, exclusively, for friar knights of the militia that had continuously serviced within that territory.
From 1514 onwards, following various papal notices, King Manuel I will be able to use the money from various rents of convents and parishes to finance two hundred new commendations in order to consolidate his action overseas. In effect King Manuel uses the Order of Christ as his chivalry order of excellence and a tool of his monarchic power.