Knights Templar: History, Power, and Fall of the Medieval Military Order
The Knights Templar were one of the most influential and powerful military-religious orders of the medieval period, founded in 1119 during the era of the Crusades. Originally created to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, the order evolved into an elite international institution combining monastic discipline, military force, and financial innovation.
At their height in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Templars operated across Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, controlling land, fortresses, and early banking networks. Their dramatic fall in the early 14th century — driven by political pressure, royal debt, and religious conflict — helped cement their reputation as one of history’s most legendary medieval organizations.
Quick Facts: Knights Templar
- Founded: c. 1119 in Jerusalem
- Purpose: Protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land
- Type: Military-religious order of warrior monks
- Symbol: White mantle with a red cross
- Peak Power: 12th–13th centuries across Europe and the Crusader States
- Wealth Sources: Land ownership, donations, and early banking systems
- Major Role: Defending Crusader territories in the Holy Land
- Arrests Begin: 1307 under King Philip IV of France
- Order Dissolved: 1312 by papal decree
- Legacy: Military discipline, financial innovation, and enduring historical myth and legend
Origins of the Knights Templar
The order emerged following the success of the First Crusade (1096–1099), which resulted in the establishment of Crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem increased dramatically, but travel routes remained dangerous due to banditry and regional instability.
A small group of knights offered protection to pilgrims and were soon formally recognized by Church authorities. By the 1120s, the order gained papal approval and official recognition as a religious military brotherhood.
The Templars followed monastic vows of:
- Poverty
- Chastity
- Obedience
Despite these vows, the institution itself became extremely wealthy through donations and land grants.
Temple Mount and the Order’s Name
The Templars established their early headquarters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Medieval Christians associated this site with the biblical Temple of Solomon, leading to the order’s full Latin name:
Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici
(Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon)
From this, the shorter name Knights Templar emerged.
Military Role in the Crusades
The Knights Templar became one of the most effective and feared military forces of the Crusading era. Unlike most medieval soldiers, they were permanently organized, highly disciplined, and trained specifically for warfare in the Holy Land. Their combination of monastic devotion and battlefield professionalism made them a crucial part of Crusader military strategy.
Templar knights often formed the shock troops of Crusader armies, leading cavalry charges and defending key strongholds across the Crusader States. Their fortresses, supply networks, and logistical coordination allowed Crusader forces to operate across long distances in hostile territory.
Key Military Contributions
- Elite heavy cavalry used in major battles and field engagements
- Defense of strategic castles, roads, and pilgrimage routes
- Permanent garrisons stationed across the Crusader States
- Support for large-scale military campaigns in the eastern Mediterranean
Battlefield Reputation
Templars were known for their strict code of discipline and refusal to retreat unless ordered. This made them extremely reliable in battle but also led to heavy losses in major defeats. Their reputation for courage and religious commitment became legendary among both Christian and Muslim chroniclers.
Decline of Military Power
As Muslim powers unified under strong leaders and Crusader territories gradually fell, the Templars lost many of their military strongholds. The fall of Acre in 1291, the last major Crusader city in the Holy Land, effectively ended their frontline military role.
After the loss of the Crusader States, the order shifted focus back to Europe, where political pressures and accusations of heresy eventually led to their arrest and dissolution in the early 14th century.
Templar Wealth and Financial Power
The Templars’ wealth came primarily from:
Land and Donations
- Estates across England, France, Iberia, and Italy
- Noble patronage
- Papal tax exemptions
Early Banking System
The Templars created one of Europe’s earliest international financial networks. Pilgrims and nobles could deposit money in one location and withdraw funds elsewhere — reducing theft risk during travel.
They also:
- Provided loans to monarchs
- Managed estates and agricultural production
- Acted as financial administrators for nobles
Their banking role made them politically powerful — and politically vulnerable.
Templar Myth vs Historical Reality
Later Legends Claim:
- Discovery of the Holy Grail
- Discovery of the Ark of the Covenant
- Secret knowledge granting wealth and power
- Survival as secret societies
Historical Evidence Shows:
- Wealth derived from land, donations, and banking
- No reliable medieval records confirming treasure discoveries
- No proof of secret society continuation
Modern historians treat most treasure and secret knowledge stories as later folklore.
Relationship with Other Military Orders
The Templars operated alongside other Crusader orders:
Knights Hospitaller
- Focused on medical care and fortress defense
- Later based in Rhodes and Malta
Teutonic Knights
- Originated during the Third Crusade
- Later expanded into Eastern Europe
Together, these orders formed the backbone of Crusader military organization.
Decline and Fall of the Knights Templar
The order’s downfall resulted from political, economic, and religious pressures.
Key Causes
Loss of Crusader Territories
- Fall of Acre in 1291 ended major Crusader presence in the Holy Land
Royal Debt
- King Philip IV of France owed massive sums to the Templars
Political Consolidation
- Monarchs sought to reduce independent Church-backed power groups
Arrests and Dissolution
In 1307, King Philip IV ordered mass arrests of Templars in France.
Accusations included:
- Heresy
- Idolatry
- Secret rituals
Many confessions were extracted under torture. The Pope later dissolved the order officially at the Council of Vienne (1312).
Grand Master Jacques de Molay was executed in 1314.
Legacy of the Knights Templar
The Templars left a lasting mark on medieval history through:
Military Organization
Professional standing religious armies influenced later military structures.
Financial Innovation
Early international banking practices helped shape European finance.
Cultural Legacy
Templars became symbols of:
- Chivalry
- Religious warfare
- Medieval mystery and legend
Why the Knights Templar Still Matter Today
The story of the Knights Templar illustrates how religion, warfare, finance, and politics intersected during the medieval period. Their rise demonstrates the power of international religious institutions, while their fall highlights the dangers of political and financial rivalry.
Their history continues to influence literature, film, and historical debate — though modern scholarship separates documented history from later legend.
Related Topics for Deeper Study
- The Crusades and Crusader States
- Military Orders of the Middle Ages
- Medieval Banking and Finance
- Fall of Acre (1291)
- Medieval Papal Authority
The Knights Templar are one of the most legendary and mysterious military orders of the medieval period, founded in 1118 during the height of the Crusades. Originally established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, this elite order quickly grew in power, wealth, and influence across medieval Europe and beyond. Known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, the Templars combined monastic discipline with formidable military skill. Their fascinating history is marked by heroic battles, secret rituals, and dramatic downfall, making them a lasting symbol of medieval chivalry and intrigue.
Temple Mount
The Knights Templar were given permission to set up their headquarters in the Temple Mount in the Holy city of Jerusalem by King Baldwin II, this was a very important location within the city.
Temple of Solomon
The Knights Templar’s headquarters were located in the Aqsa Mosque which was believed to stand on the site of King Solomon’s Temple, King Solomon was a legendary ruler from ancient times who is believed to have great wisdom and wealth. There are a lot of legends concerning the Knights Templar Legend has it that the Knights Templar spent this time digging under the Temple Mount until they found hidden treasures, and more importantly ancient knowledge that is believed to have given them great wealth and power.
Templar Treasure
When the Knights Templar returned to Europe after their nine years at Temple Mount they quickly became very wealthy and powerful. Many wealthy noble families of Christian faith throughout Europe and churches are also believed to have been sympathetic to their cause of reclaiming the holy lands and had given them land and money in support of the cause.
legend has it that it was the treasure and knowledge gained from the items they found at the Temple of Solomon that gave them their true wealth and power.
Treasures of Mount Temple
Legend has it that the Knights Templar found the Holy Grail which is the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper!
They are also said to have discovered the ‘Ark of the covenant’ or the ‘Ark of testimonies’ as it was also known, a chest that is believed to contain the original stones on which the 10 Commandments were engraved. It is also claimed that they may have found part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
The Knights Templar Name
The Aqsa Mosque was commonly known as the Templum Solomonis from ancient times.
It was from the knights’ Templar association with this Temple that the Knights Templar eventually took their name which was a shortened version of Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici and meant “the poor fellow-soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon” For these reasons, they became widely known as the Knights Templar.
Order of the Knights Templar
The Knights Templar was a militaristic order of religious knights whose job was to serve and protect people of the Christian faith during their pilgrims to the Holy Land. The Templar Knights had very strict codes of conduct that they had to obey such as vows made regarding chastity and poverty. The order of the Knights Templar was founded in the year 1118 in Jerusalem to protect Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Lands.
Knight’s Templar Warriors
The Knights Templar were highly trained, fearsome warriors who had no fear of death, they only feared God and were prepared to fight to the death in battle. Other religious orders during the crusades included the Knights Hospitaller and Teutonic Knights cared for ill and injured Christians as well as protected them. It was the Knights Templar who were the most feared of all, they were simply mentally and physically supremely prepared for battle and were only trained to fight.
Shields and Dress
The Knights Templar wore very distinctive clothing with white surcoats emblazoned with a red cross. The Knights Templar horses were also donned in the white and red of the Knights Templar, the Templar shield would be white with a Red Cross.
The Knights Hospitaller
The Knights Hospitaller were another religious order, similar to the Knights Templar, however, the Knights Hospitaller as their name suggests looked after the sick and wounded, but they fought for their faith during the crusades as well.
The Knights Hospitaller were also known as the Knights of St John and would also fight for the Christian faith without hesitation. The Knights Hospitaller wore black full-length tunics over their chainmail with a white cross.
The Teutonic Knights
During the third Crusade another religious order of Knights was formed, these Knights originated from Germany and were called the Teutonic Knights.
The Teutonic knights were similar to the Hospitaller Knights as it was also their mission to care for Christians who were sick and injured and to fight for their faith.
The Teutonic knights wore full length white tunics with a black cross over their chainmail.
Knights Templar Wealth
Even though the Knights Templar took vows of chastity and poverty, the religious order of the Knights Templar became incredibly wealthy during their conquests and travels.
It is believed that the Knights Templar also gained hidden knowledge and took treasures from the temple of Solomon.
It is claimed that the Knights Templar excavated tunnels underneath the Temple Mount and discovered hidden treasures and ancient knowledge.
In the future the Knights Templar were able to use their incredible wealth to build magnificent castles and buildings throughout Europe.
Knights Templar and the Crusades
Templar knights were initially very successful in their battles against the Muslims in the Crusades and they managed to take back Jerusalem briefly after the first crusade.
However, the Templar knights suffered many setbacks mainly due to the legendary Muslim leader Saladin who eventually helped to drive out the Christians from the Holy Lands in 1291.
End of the Knights Templar
The Muslims joined forces instead of infighting and their combined armies continued to push back the Knights Templar and were able to take the important city of Acre in 1291 which brought to an end the Crusades and eventually led to the downfall of the Templar knights’ religious order altogether.
Templar Leaders Burned at the Stake
After the Templar knights were defeated during the crusades in 1291 they began to lose support from wealthy people throughout Europe who had previously backed them. There were also many wealthy people throughout Europe who had given money to the Templar Knights and were indebted to them including the French King Philip IV.
At this time the French King accused the Templars’ leaders of following pagan beliefs and witchcraft and ordered their arrests! This led to many members of the Knights Templar being burned at the stake and in 1312 the order of the Templar Knights was disbanded completely.
Legendary Tales
It is believed that Templar knights went into hiding after 1312 and infiltrated secret societies such as the Masons, there may be evidence to support this theory however this is not mainstream thinking.
It is also known that the Hospitaller Knights moved to Rhodes initially and then Malta in the Mediterranean where they continued to fight Muslims.
The Teutonic Knights who had German origins retreated back to Eastern Europe and were involved in further Crusades against the pagan religions.
