Knights Templar

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Coat of arms of Vatican City State - 2023 version

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Bandeira Templária

Temple mount

Battle of Cresson

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Knights Templar

The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a Catholic military order recognized in 1139 by the papal bull Omne Datum Optimum issued by Pope Innocent II. The order was founded in 1119 and was active until about 1312. The Templars became a favored charity throughout Christendom and grew rapidly in membership and power. They were prominent in Christian finance. Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. Non-combatant members of the order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, developing innovative financial techniques that were an early form of banking, and building fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land.

History

The Knights Templar were founded by Hugh de Payens, a French knight, along with eight other knights, with the stated mission to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. After the First Crusade, many Christians made pilgrimages to various sacred sites in the Holy Land. Although the city of Jerusalem was relatively secure under Christian control, the rest of the Outremer was not. Bandit attacks were frequent, and the pilgrims were often slaughtered or sold into slavery.

The Templars were headquartered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and named for it. They received their official endorsement from the Church in 1129 at the Council of Troyes. The order became a favored charity across Europe, receiving money, land, businesses, and noble-born sons from families who were eager to help with the fight in the Holy Land. The Templars established a network of many fortifications throughout Europe and the Middle East and managed a large economic infrastructure, which in many ways formed an early banking system.

Downfall

The downfall of the Knights Templar was swift and dramatic. By 1307, the order's influence had waned, partly due to the loss of the Holy Land and the dwindling support of the public and European monarchies. On October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the order, took advantage of this weakened state to make his move against them. He ordered the arrest of all Templars in France, charging them with heresies and other fabricated crimes. Under pressure, Pope Clement V disbanded the order in 1312 at the Council of Vienne.

Legacy

The legacy of the Knights Templar is a subject of fascination and speculation. They have been featured in various works of fiction and conspiracy theories. The mystery surrounding their sudden downfall and the disappearance of their vast wealth has led to speculation over the centuries. The Templars have been associated with legends concerning secrets and mysteries handed down to the select from ancient times. Various groups claim lineage from the original Templar order, but these claims are generally considered unfounded.

See also

• Crusades
• Military order
• Templar Knights in popular culture