The Knights Templar were a medieval Christian military order founded in 1118 to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the Crusades. They combined the lifestyle of monks with the duties of warriors, taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Known for their distinctive white mantles emblazoned with a red cross, the Templars quickly became one of the most powerful and wealthy orders in medieval Europe. They played a key role in major battles, built fortifications, and managed vast financial networks, earning them both reverence and suspicion over the centuries.
Hugues de Payens was the first Grand Master of the Order, a later famous Grand Master was called ‘Jacques de Molay’.
Names of the Knights Templar
The Poor Knights Templar was called the ‘Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon‘ and also became known as the Order of Solomon’s Temple.
The Knights Templar were also deployed as ‘Shock Troops’ in many famous medieval battles to break up enemy lines and scare the enemies’ front-line troops. They were considered to be one of the most skilled fighting forces of the Middle Ages.
Templar knights were a fearsome sight in their distinctive outfits, with their white mantles with red crosses they were easily recognized by enemy troops.
Knights Templar *Official Recognition
Official Recognition of the Knights Templar didn’t come until the year 1139 and arrived via the papal bull ‘Omne datum optimum’ A papal bull is a kind of public declaration that can be issued in various ways by a pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Templars Rise to Power
The Templars became a favoured charity throughout Christendom and this helped their rapid rise in power, during this period of medieval history.
- Templars became a prominent force in Christian finance and developed an early form of banking.
- Developed into one of the most feared and skilled fighting units of the Crusade.
- Built a network of around 1000 command centers throughout Europe.
- Built impressive Castles all over Europe.
- Created the first-ever multi-national type corporations
End of Knights Templar
It is believed that King Phillip IV was indebted to the Knights Templar and that he wanted the templars killed so that he did not have to pay this debt.
King Phillip sent out an order to arrest prominent members of the order including the Grand Master Jacques de Molay.
Enemies of the Faith
The Templars were accused by King Phillip of being enemies of the Christian faith and amongst other things being guilty of denying Christ, corruption, Fraud, worshiping Baphomet, and homosexuality, and on Friday, 13 October 1307 they were arrested at dawn.
Pope Clement *Papal Bull
Pope Clement issued a Papal Bull on 22 November 1307 which was sent to all the Monarchs of Europe declaring that all Templars in Europe were to be arrested and their assets seized.
Later after forced confessions were obtained many important Templars were burned at the stake in Paris including the Grand Master Jaques Molay.
