The Knights of the Templar have been the subjects of books and movies in recent years, but what do we really know of this secret society?
The Crusades, The Wars of the Cross, occurred over 200 bloody years of religious persecution. The Knights Templar rose to celebrity status, gaining the blessing of the Catholic Church along with wealth and power.
The First Crusade of 1096, called upon common Christians to fight and gain notoriety as knights. The medieval Catholic Church offered an indulgence as incentive to fight, wiping criminal pasts from all records. The Knights were believed to be a group of soldiers who offered their services to protect Christians traveling to Jerusalem although scholars are now debating the origin of the Knights.
The Templars made their headquarters in the biblical Temple of Soloman. In 1867 a British archeological team found underground tunnels and evidence that the Templars had used or excavated the tunnels. It was rumored the Templars possessed religious relics including; a piece of the true cross, a crown of thorns and the Holy Grail.
Theories abound regarding the Holy Grail. Some believe it was the chalis from which Jesus drank wine, a spear, a book or the holy blood line of Jesus and Mary Magdalen. The Knights were probably seeking treasure left by the Jews after the Roman invasion in 66AD. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls inventoried over 200 tons of gold and silver that is still missing.
The Knights were military monks, having taken vows of poverty and chastity. In 1128, Bernard of Clairvaux, who was a nephew of one of the founding Knights, all of whom were related by blood or marriage, began a recruiting and fundraising campaign. They grew wealthy with land grants, donations and noble born volunteers. The recruits gave all their land and wealth to the order.
The Knights were popularized after successful military conquests. They were the best equipped, most well trained and revered military unit of the time. They reached their pinnacle of power in the 1300, with numbers in the tens of thousands and power without limit.
Templars believed their souls were assured a place in Heaven and displayed suicidal disregard for survival, making them the most dangerous warriors in battle. The Knights no longer guarded the road to Jersualum. Instead they offered protection for the valuables, allowing travelers a place to deposit goods which is the model for modern day banking. They took it one step further and offered loans, repaid with an additional fee. The practice was overlooked by the Church as were other questionable acts.
Some speculate the Church offered favor to the Templars because they found evidence contrary to the cannons of the Bible under the Temple of Soloman. Regardless of the reason for the favor they were shown, the Templars grew more powerful and prestigious.
Soon the tide would turn and the Christians were driven from the Holy land. With the loss of Jerusalem, public opinion turned and scandal followed. In 1307, Philip IV of France summoned Templar leaders to discuss a merger with other military leaders, leaving their followers vulnerable. Templar headquarters in France were swarmed by soldiers and Templars taken into custody. The Templars were arrested on charges of heresy and abandoned by the Pope.
Thousands of Knights Templar escaped King Philip’s wrath. There is little record of the survivors but many believe the Knights settled in Switzerland, secluded in the Alps. Others believe the Knights escaped by sea. If so, they probably fled to Scotland. Robert the Bruce declared war against the British at the same time Templars were arrested in France. The Sinclair family in Scotland claim Templar ancestry. The family commissioned the Rosalind Church which is decorated with symbols of the Knights Templar, Mesonics and Christians.
The Templars’ secrecy during initiation ceremonies was the source of much speculation.
Every town had a Templar presence, buildings, land, ships and businesses were owned by the group. They amassed worldly wealth, but many believe they had far greater riches in religious artifacts. Some even speculate they had a mummified head of John the Baptist or the Shroud of Turin based on specific questions asked by Inquisitioners after the Templars’ arrest.
The Templar records have disappeared and the legends of their riches have endured. The Knights Templar depicted in The Kingdom of Heaven, National Treasure or DaVinci Code continue to fascinate audiences and readers today.
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