Jerez de los Caballeros

Jerez de los Caballeros is a town of south-western Spain, in the territory of Badajoz. It is situated on two slopes ignoring the River Ardila, a tributary of the Guadiana, 12 miles east of the Portuguese border. Its fundamental industry is in horticultural generation, particularly in ham and bacon from groups of swine which are raised in the encompassing oak forests. The town is said to have been established by Alfonso IX of Leon in 1229; in 1232 it was stretched out by his child Ferdinand III the Saint, who offered it to the Knights Templar.

On 10 May 1539, Hernando de Soto wrote in his will: "That a sanctuary be raised inside the Church of San Miguel in Jerez de los Cabelleros, Spain, where De Soto grew up, at an expense of 2,000 ducats, with an altarpiece highlighting the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Conception, that his tomb be canvassed in a fine dark broadcloth beaten by a red cross of the Order of the Knights of Santiago, and on unique events a pall of dark velvet with the De Soto escutcheon be set on the sacred place; that a minister be enlisted at the pay of 12,000 maravedis to perform 5 masses each week for the spirits of De Soto, his folks and spouse; that 30 masses be said for him the day his body was buried, and twenty for our Lady of the Conception".