Knights Templar Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici
A Seal of the Knights Templar, with their famous image of two knights on a single horse, a symbol of their early poverty. The Master of the Knights Templar 's great seal was double-sided and showed the picture of The Dome of the Rock (some opinions are that the picture represents a circular The text is in Greek and Latin characters, Sigillum Militum Xpisti: followed by a cross, which means "the Seal of the Soldiers of Christ". A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half
Active	c. 1119–1314
Allegiance	Papacy
Type	Western Christian military order
Size	15,000–20,000 members at peak, 10% of whom were knights[1][2]
Headquarters	Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Nickname	Order of the Temple
Patron	St. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Bernard of Clairvaux
Attire	White mantle with a red cross
Engagements	The Crusades, including: Battle of Montgisard (1177), Battle of Hattin (1187), Battle of Arsuf (1191), Siege of Acre (1190–1191), Siege of Acre (1291) Reconquista
Commanders
First Grand Master	Hugues de Payens
Last Grand Master	Jacques de Molay

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici), commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple (French: Ordre du Temple or Templiers), were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders. Bernard of Clairvaux, OCist ( 1090 - August 20, 1153) was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents The Battle of Montgisard was fought between the Ayyubids and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on November 25, 1177. The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July The Battle of Arsuf was a battle of the Third Crusade in which Richard I of England defeated Saladin at Arsuf. The Siege of Acre was the first confrontation of the Third Crusade, lasting from August 28, 1189 until July 12, 1191, and the The Siege of Acre (also called the Fall of Acre) took place in 1291 and resulted in the loss of the Crusader -control city of Acre to the Muslims The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon Hugues de Payens, also Hughes de Payns Hughes de Pagan (English Hugh of Payens or ""Hugh Pagan"" (c Jacques de Molay (est 1244–5/1249–50 – 18 March 1314) was the 23rd and officially last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people military order is a Christian Order of knighthood that is founded for crusading, i ^[3] The organization existed for approximately two centuries in the Middle Ages. It was founded in the aftermath of the First Crusade of 1096, its original purpose to ensure the safety of the many Europeans who made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem after its conquest. The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II with the dual goals of conquering the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and freeing In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the

Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favored charity across Europe and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles each with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a Cape or Cloak by the fact that it usually has Sleeves The English The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents ^[4] Non-combatant members of the Order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, innovating financial techniques that were an early form of banking,^[5][6] and building many fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land. Christendom usually refers to Christianity as a territorial phenomenon A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for The Holy Land ( Arabic: الأرض المقدسة al-Arḍ ul-Muqaddasah;Ancient Aramaic: ארעא קדישא Ar'a Qaddisha; Hebrew: ארץ_הקודש

The Templars' success was tied closely to the Crusades; when the Holy Land was lost, support for the Order faded. Rumors about the Templars' secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the Order, began pressuring Pope Clement V to take action against the Order. Pope Clement V' (About 1264 &ndash April 20, 1314) born Raymond Bertrand de Got (also occasionally spelled de Gouth and de In 1307, many of the Order's members in France were arrested, tortured into giving false confessions, and then burned at the stake. see False confession (legal for more False Confession was a Hardcore punk band in the early 1980s that emerged in the Oxnard California Execution by burning has a long history as a method of Punishment for Crimes such as Treason, Heresy and Witchcraft ^[7] In 1312, Pope Clement, under continuing pressure from King Philip, disbanded the Order. The abrupt disappearance of a major part of the European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the "Templar" name alive into the modern day.

History

Main article: History of the Knights Templar

Rise

The first headquarters of the Knights Templar, Al Aqsa Mosque, on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. The history of the Knights Templar incorporates about two centuries during the Middle Ages, from the Order's founding in the early 1100s to when it was disbanded Al-Aqsa Mosque ( Arabic:المسجد الاقصى /æl'mæsdʒɪd æl'ɑqsˁɑ/ {{Audio|ArAqsaMosque The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram The Crusaders called it the Temple of Solomon, as it was built on top of the ruins of the original Temple, and it was from this location that the Knights took their name of Templar. Solomon's Temple (בית המקדש transliterated Beit HaMikdash) also known as the First Temple, was according to

After the First Crusade captured Jerusalem in 1099, many European pilgrims traveled to visit what they referred to as the Holy Places. The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II with the dual goals of conquering the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and freeing Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the The Holy Land ( Arabic: الأرض المقدسة al-Arḍ ul-Muqaddasah;Ancient Aramaic: ארעא קדישא Ar'a Qaddisha; Hebrew: ארץ_הקודש However, though the city of Jerusalem was under relatively secure control, the rest of the Outremer was not. Outremer, French ( outre-mer) for " Overseas " was the general name given to the Crusader states established after the Bandits abounded, and pilgrims were routinely slaughtered, sometimes by the hundreds, as they attempted to make the journey from the coastline at Jaffa into the Holy Land. Jaffa يَافَا;(יָפוֹ Yafo; also Japho, Joppa) is an ancient Port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world ^[8]

Around 1119, two veterans of the First Crusade, the French knight Hugues de Payens and his relative Godfrey de Saint-Omer, proposed the creation of a monastic order for the protection of the pilgrims. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Hugues de Payens, also Hughes de Payns Hughes de Pagan (English Hugh of Payens or ""Hugh Pagan"" (c Godfrey of Saint-Omer (also known as Gaufred Godefroi or Godfrey de St Omer Saint Omer was a Flemish Knight, one of the founding members of the Knights Templar Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one ^[9] King Baldwin II of Jerusalem agreed to their request, and gave them space for a headquarters on the Temple Mount, in the captured Al Aqsa Mosque. Baldwin II of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin II of Edessa, also called Baldwin of Bourcq, born Baldwin of Rethel (died August 21, 1131 The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram Al-Aqsa Mosque ( Arabic:المسجد الاقصى /æl'mæsdʒɪd æl'ɑqsˁɑ/ {{Audio|ArAqsaMosque The Temple Mount had a mystique, because it was above what was believed to be the ruins of the Temple of Solomon. Solomon's Temple (בית המקדש transliterated Beit HaMikdash) also known as the First Temple, was according to ^[4][10] The Crusaders therefore referred to the Al Aqsa Mosque as Solomon's Temple, and it was from this location that the Order took the name of Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, or "Templar" knights. The Order, with about nine knights, had few financial resources and relied on donations to survive. Their emblem was of two knights riding on a single horse, emphasizing the Order's poverty.

The Templars' impoverished status did not last long. They had a powerful advocate in Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a leading Church figure and a nephew of one of the founding knights. Bernard of Clairvaux, OCist ( 1090 - August 20, 1153) was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order He spoke and wrote persuasively on their behalf, and in 1129 at the Council of Troyes, the Order was officially endorsed by the Church. There have been a number of councils held at Troyes: 867 - proclaimed that no Bishop could be disposed without reference to the Holy With this formal blessing, the Templars 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 Holy Land ( Arabic: الأرض المقدسة al-Arḍ ul-Muqaddasah;Ancient Aramaic: ארעא קדישא Ar'a Qaddisha; Hebrew: ארץ_הקודש Another major benefit came in 1139, when Pope Innocent II's papal bull Omne Datum Optimum exempted the Order from obedience to local laws. A Papal bull is a particular type of Letters patent or charter issued by a Pope. Omne Datum Optimum (Latin for "Every perfect gift" a quotation from the Epistle of James) was a Papal Bull issued by Pope Innocent II This ruling meant that the Templars could pass freely through all borders, were not required to pay any taxes, and were exempt from all authority except that of the Pope. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and ^[11]

With its clear mission and ample resources, the Order grew rapidly. Templars were often the advance force in key battles of the Crusades, as the knights on their heavily armed warhorses would set out to gallop full speed at the enemy, in an attempt to break opposition lines. Horses were first used in warfare over 5000 years ago The earliest evidence of the use of horses ridden in warfare dates One of their most famous victories was in 1177 during the Battle of Montgisard, where some 500 Templar knights helped to defeat Saladin's army of more than 26,000 soldiers. The Battle of Montgisard was fought between the Ayyubids and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on November 25, 1177. Salahadin Ayyubi ( Arabic:صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب Kurdish: سه‌لاحه‌دین ئه‌یوبی Selah'edînê Eyubî; c ^[13]

Map of Jerusalem, showing the location of the Templar headquarters on the Temple Mount

Although the primary mission of the Order was military, relatively few members were combatants. The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram The others acted in support positions to assist the knights and to manage the financial infrastructure. The Templar Order, though its members were sworn to individual poverty, was given control of wealth beyond direct donations. A nobleman who was interested in participating in the Crusades might place all his assets under Templar management while he was away. Accumulating wealth in this manner across Europe and the Outremer, the Order in 1150 began generating letters of credit for pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land: pilgrims deposited their valuables with a local Templar preceptory before embarking, received an encrypted document indicating the value of their deposit, then used that document upon arrival in the Holy Land to retrieve their funds. A letter of credit is a document issued mostly by a Financial institution, used primarily in Trade finance, which usually provides an irrevocable payment undertaking This innovative arrangement was an early form of banking, and may have been the first formal system to support the use of cheques; it improved the safety of pilgrims by making them less attractive targets for thieves, and also contributed to the Templar coffers. A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money A cheque (spelled check in American English) is a Negotiable instrument instructing a Financial institution to pay a specific amount of ^[4][14]

Based on this mix of donations and business dealing, the Templar established financial networks across the whole of Christendom. They acquired large tracts of land, both in Europe and the Middle East; they bought and managed farms and vineyards; they built churches and castles; they were involved in manufacturing, import and export; they had their own fleet of ships; and at one point they even owned the entire island of Cyprus. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía The Order of the Knights Templar arguably qualifies as the world's first multinational corporation. Multinational corporation ( MNC) or transnational corporation ( TNC) is a Corporation or enterprise that manages Production or delivers ^[13]

Decline

1187's Battle of the Horns of Hattin, the turning point in the Crusades

In the mid-1100s, the tide began to turn in the Crusades. The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July The Muslim world had become more united under effective leaders such as Saladin, and dissension arose among Christian factions in and concerning the Holy Land. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Salahadin Ayyubi ( Arabic:صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب Kurdish: سه‌لاحه‌دین ئه‌یوبی Selah'edînê Eyubî; c The Knights Templar were occasionally at odds with two other Christian orders, the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights, and decades of internecine feuds weakened Christian positions, politically and militarily. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St The Teutonic Order is a German Roman Catholic religious order. After the Templars were involved in several unsuccessful campaigns, including the pivotal Battle of the Horns of Hattin, Jerusalem was captured by Saladin's forces in 1187. The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July The Crusaders retook the city in 1229, although without Templar aid, but held it only briefly. In 1244, the Khwarezmi Turks recaptured Jerusalem, and the city did not return to Western control until 1917 when the British captured it from the Ottoman Turks. The Khwarezmian Empire, more commonly known as the empire of the Khwarezm Shahs ( Khwārezmšhāḥīān, "Kings of Khwarezmia " The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish ^[15]

The Templars were forced to relocate their headquarters to other cities in the north, such as the seaport of Acre, which they held for the next century. But they lost that, too, in 1291, followed by their last mainland strongholds, Tortosa (in what is now Syria), and Atlit. Tartus ( طرطوس, also transliterated Tartous) is a city in Syria, the capital of Tartus Governorate. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Atlit (עתלית is a small coastal town in the form of a communal settlement, located south of Haifa in Israel. Their headquarters moved to Limassol, Cyprus,^[16] and they also attempted to maintain a garrison on tiny Arwad Island, just off the coast from Tortosa. Limassol or Lemesos ( Greek: Λεμεσός, Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol, alt Arwad ( أرواد) &ndash formerly known as Arado ( Άραδο) Arados (Greek Άραδος) Arvad, Arpad In 1300, there was some attempt to engage in coordinated military efforts with the Mongols^[17] via a new invasion force at Arwad. Many attempts were made towards forming a Franco-Mongol alliance between the mid-13th and early 14th centuries starting around the time of the Seventh Crusade. In 1302 or 1303, however, the Templars lost the island to the Egyptian Mamluks in the Siege of Arwad. The Siege of Arwad or Siege of Ruad took place around 1302 on the island of Arwad on the Syrian coast With the island gone, the Crusaders lost their last foothold in the Holy Land. ^[13][18]

Templar building at Saint Martin des Champs, France

With the Order's military mission now less important, European support for the organization began to dwindle. The situation was complex though, as over the two hundred years of their existence, the Templars had become a part of European daily life. ^[19] The organization's Templar Houses, hundreds of which were dotted around Europe, gave them a widespread presence at the local level. ^[2] The Templars still managed many businesses, and many Europeans had daily contact with the Templar network, for instance working at a Templar farm or vineyard, or using the Order as a bank in which to store personal valuables. The Order continued to not be subject to local government, making it everywhere a "state within a state. " It also had a standing army that could pass freely through all borders, but that no longer had a well-defined mission. This situation heightened tensions with some European nobility, especially as the Templars were indicating an interest in founding their own monastic state, just as the Teutonic Knights had done in Prussia,^[14] and the Knights Hospitaller were doing with Rhodes. The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights (Deutschordensland sometimes known in English by the German term Ordensstaat (ˈɔːdn̩ˌʃtɑːt or "Order-State" Rhodes ( Greek: Ρόδος - Ródos) is the principal city of the Greek island of Rhodes, in southeastern Aegean Sea and ^[20]

Arrests and dissolution

King Philip IV of France (1268–1314)

In 1305, the new Pope Clement V, based in France, sent letters to both the Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay and the Hospitaller Grand Master Fulk de Villaret to discuss the possibility of merging the two Orders. Pope Clement V' (About 1264 &ndash April 20, 1314) born Raymond Bertrand de Got (also occasionally spelled de Gouth and de Jacques de Molay (est 1244–5/1249–50 – 18 March 1314) was the 23rd and officially last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the Foulques de Villaret ( Occitan: Folco del Vilaret, also Fulk de Villaret) (died 1 September 1327 a native of Languedoc-Roussillon, France Neither was amenable to the idea but Pope Clement persisted, and in 1306 he invited both Grand Masters to France to discuss the matter. De Molay arrived first in early 1307, but de Villaret was delayed for several months. While waiting, De Molay and Clement discussed charges that had been made two years prior by an ousted Templar. It was generally agreed that the charges were false, but Clement sent King Philip IV of France a written request for assistance in the investigation. King Philip was already deeply in debt to the Templars from his war with the English and decided to seize upon the rumors for his own purposes. He began pressuring the Church to take action against the Order, as a way of freeing himself from his debts. ^[21]

On Friday October 13, 1307 (a date incorrectly linked with the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition)^[22][23] Philip ordered de Molay and scores of other French Templars to be simultaneously arrested. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Friday the 13th is superstitiously considered a day of bad Luck in English - French - and German -speaking countries as well as in other The Templars were charged with numerous heresies and tortured to extract false confessions of blasphemy. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief The confessions, despite having been obtained under duress, caused a scandal in Paris. After more bullying from Philip, Pope Clement then issued the bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae on November 22, 1307, which instructed all Christian monarchs in Europe to arrest all Templars and seize their assets. Pastoralis Praeeminentiae was the name of a Papal Bull issued by Pope Clement V on November 22, 1307 to all Christian monarchs ^[24]

Pope Clement called for papal hearings to determine the Templars' guilt or innocence, and once freed of the Inquisitors' torture, many Templars recanted their confessions. The term Inquisition can refer to any one of several institutions charged with trying and convicting heretics within the Roman Catholic Church and Some had sufficient legal experience to defend themselves in the trials, but in 1310 Philip blocked this attempt, using the previously forced confessions to have dozens of Templars burned at the stake in Paris. ^[25][26]

Templars being burned at the stake

Convent of Christ in Castle Tomar, Portugal. The Convent of the Order of Christ ( Convento de Cristo) in Tomar, Portugal, was originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Built in 1160 as a stronghold for the Knights Templar, it became the headquarters of the renamed Order of Christ. Founded in 1318 the Military Order of Christ (previously Real Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo) was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal In 1983, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex ^[27]

With Philip threatening military action unless the Pope complied with his wishes, Pope Clement finally agreed to disband the Order, citing the public scandal that had been generated by the confessions. At the Council of Vienne in 1312, he issued a series of papal bulls, including Vox in excelso, which officially dissolved the Order, and Ad providam, which turned over most Templar assets to the Hospitallers. The Council of Vienne was the Fifteenth Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church that met between 1311 and 1312 in Vienne. Vox in excelso is the name of a Papal Bull issued by Pope Clement V in 1312. Ad providam was the name of a Papal Bull issued by Pope Clement V in 1312. ^[28]

As for the leaders of the Order, the elderly Grand Master Jacques de Molay, who had confessed under torture, retracted his statement. Jacques de Molay (est 1244–5/1249–50 – 18 March 1314) was the 23rd and officially last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the His associate Geoffrey de Charney, Preceptor of Normandy, followed de Molay's example, and insisted on his innocence. This article is about the Templar who died in 1314 For his nephew who died in 1356 see Geoffroi de Charny. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Both men were declared guilty of being relapsed heretics, and they were sentenced to burn alive at the stake in Paris on March 18, 1314. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor De Molay reportedly remained defiant to the end, asking to be tied in such a way that he could face the Notre Dame Cathedral, and hold his hands together in prayer. NotreDameFlyingButtressjpg|right|thumb|250px|Notre Dame de Paris Flying Buttress]] Notre Dame de Paris is a Gothic Cathedral on the eastern half of the ^[29] According to legend, he called out from the flames that both Pope Clement and King Philip would soon meet him before God. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Pope Clement died only a month later, and King Philip died in a hunting accident before the end of the year. ^[30]

With the last of the Order's leaders gone, the remaining Templars around Europe were either arrested and tried under the Papal investigation (with virtually none convicted), absorbed into other military orders such as the Knights Hospitaller, or pensioned and allowed to live out their days peacefully. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St Some may have fled to other territories outside Papal control, such as excommunicated Scotland or to Switzerland. Excommunication is a religious Censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Templar organizations in Portugal simply changed their name, from Knights Templar to Knights of Christ. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Founded in 1318 the Military Order of Christ (previously Real Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo) was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal ^[31]

In 2001, a document known as the "Chinon Parchment" was found in the Vatican Secret Archives, apparently after having been filed in the wrong place in 1628. The Chinon Parchment is a Historical document, published by Étienne Baluze in Vitae Paparum Avenionensis ("Lives of the Popes of Avignon" The Vatican Secret Archives ( Latin: Archivum Secretum Apostolicum Vaticanum) located in Vatican City, is the central repository for all of the acts promulgated It is a record of the trial of the Templars, and shows that Clement initially absolved the Templars of all heresies in 1308, before formally disbanding the Order in 1312. ^[32][33] In October 2007, the Scrinium publishing house, which publishes documents for the Vatican, published secret documents about the trial of the Knights Templar, including the Chinon Parchment. ^[33]

It is currently the Roman Catholic Church's position that the medieval persecution of the Knights Templar was unjust; that there was nothing inherently wrong with the Order or its Rule; and that Pope Clement was pressured into his actions by the magnitude of the public scandal and the dominating influence of King Philip IV. In Catholic Theology, scandal is a behavior or attitude that leads another to Sin. ^[34][35]

Organization

This article is part of or related to the Knights Templar series
Knights Templar History of the Knights Templar Knights Templar legends Knights Templar Seal Grand Masters of the Knights Templar Knights Templar in England Knights Templar in Scotland List of Knights Templar List of places associated with the Knights Templar Modern associations Knights Templar (Freemason degree) Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem

The Templars were organized as a monastic order, similar to Bernard's Cistercian Order, which was considered the first effective international organization in Europe. The history of the Knights Templar incorporates about two centuries during the Middle Ages, from the Order's founding in the early 1100s to when it was disbanded The secrecy around the powerful medieval Order of the Knights Templar, and the speed with which they suddenly disappeared over the space of a few years has led to many The Master of the Knights Templar 's great seal was double-sided and showed the picture of The Dome of the Rock (some opinions are that the picture represents a circular Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon The history of the Knights Templar in England began when the French nobleman Hughes de Payens, the founder and Grand Master of the order This article is solely about the medieval Order in Scotland The Modern Order is discussed in Scottish Knights Templar. This is a list of some members of the Knights Templar, a powerful Christian military order during the time of the Crusades. With their military mission and extensive financial resources the Knights Templar funded a large number of building projects around Europe and the Holy The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ is the United States affiliated Grand Priory of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH which Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one ^[36] The organizational structure had a strong chain of authority. Each country with a major Templar presence (France, England, Aragon, Portugal, Poitou, Apulia, Jerusalem, Tripoli, Antioch, Anjou, and Hungary^[37]) had a Master of the Order for the Templars in that region. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The history of the Knights Templar in England began when the French nobleman Hughes de Payens, the founder and Grand Master of the order Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Apulia ( Italian: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east the Ionian Sea Tripolis ( Arabic: طرابلس Ṭarābulus - also طرابلس الغرب Ṭarā-bu-lus al-Gharb Libyan vernacular: Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also Anjou is a former County (c 880) Duchy ( 1360) and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic All of them were subject to the Grand Master (always a French knight), appointed for life, who oversaw both the Order's military efforts in the East and their financial holdings in the West. Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. No precise numbers exist, but it is estimated that at the Order's peak there were between 15,000 and 20,000 Templars, of whom about a tenth were actual knights. ^[1][2]

It was Bernard de Clairvaux and founder Hugues de Payens who devised the specific code of behavior for the Templar Order, known to modern historians as the Latin Rule. Its 72 clauses defined the ideal behavior for the Knights, such as the types of robes they were to wear and how many horses they could have. Knights were to take their meals in silence, eat meat no more than three times per week, and were not to have physical contact of any kind with women, even members of their own family. A Master of the Order was assigned "4 horses, and one chaplain-brother and one clerk with three horses, and one sergeant brother with two horses, and one gentleman valet to carry his shield and lance, with one horse. "^[38] As the Order grew, more guidelines were added, and the original list of 72 clauses expanded to several hundred in its final form. ^[39][40]

One of the many reported flags of the Knights Templar

There was a threefold division of the ranks of the Templars: the aristocratic knights, the lower-born sergeants, and the clergy. Knights were required to be of knightly descent, and to wear white mantles. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. They were equipped as heavy cavalry, with three or four horses, and one or two squires. The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on Squires were generally not members of the Order, but were instead outsiders who were hired for a set period of time. Beneath the knights in the Order and drawn from lower social strata were the sergeants. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. ^[41] They were either equipped as light cavalry with a single horse,^[42] or served in other ways such as administering the property of the Order or performing menial tasks and trades. Light cavalry refers to lightly-armed and armored troops mounted on Horses, as opposed to Heavy cavalry, where the riders (and sometimes the horses are heavily armored Chaplains, constituting a third Templar class, were ordained priests who saw to the Templars' spiritual needs. A chaplain is typically a Priest, Pastor, ordained Deacon, Rabbi, Imam or other member of the Clergy serving a group of In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies ^[43]

The knights wore white robes with a red cross, and a white mantle; the sergeants wore a black tunic with a red cross on front and back, and a black or brown mantle. ^[44][45] The white mantle was assigned to the Templars at the Council of Troyes in 1129, and the cross was most probably added to their robes at the launch of the Second Crusade in 1147, when Pope Eugenius III, King Louis VII of France, and many other notables attended a meeting of the French Templars at their headquarters near Paris. There have been a number of councils held at Troyes: 867 - proclaimed that no Bishop could be disposed without reference to the Holy The Second Crusade (1147&ndash1149 was the second major Crusade launched from Europe, called in 1145 in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the Pope Louis VII, called the Younger or the Young (Louis le Jeune 1120 – 18 September 1180) was King of France, the son and successor ^[46][47][48] According to their Rule, the knights were to wear the white mantle at all times, even being forbidden to eat or drink unless they were wearing it. ^[49]

Initiation,^[50] known as Reception (receptio) into the Order, was a profound commitment and involved a solemn ceremony. Outsiders were discouraged from attending the ceremony, which aroused the suspicions of medieval inquisitors during the later trials. The Medieval Inquisition is a series of Inquisitions ( Roman Catholic Church bodies charged with suppressing Heresy) from around 1184, including the

New members had to willingly sign over all of their wealth and goods to the Order and take vows of poverty, chastity, piety, and obedience. Religious vows are the public Vows made by the members of the religious life – cenobitic and eremitic – of the Roman Catholic, ^[51] Most brothers joined for life, although some were allowed to join for a set period. Sometimes a married man was allowed to join if he had his wife's permission,^[45] but he was not allowed to wear the white mantle. ^[52]

The red cross that the Templars wore on their robes was a symbol of martyrdom, and to die in combat was considered a great honor that assured a place in heaven. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom ^[53] There was a cardinal rule that the warriors of the Order should never surrender unless the Templar flag had fallen, and even then they were first to try to regroup with another of the Christian orders, such as that of the Hospitallers. The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St Only after all flags had fallen were they allowed to leave the battlefield. ^[54] This uncompromising principle, along with their reputation for courage, excellent training, and heavy armament, made the Templars one of the most feared combat forces in medieval times. ^[55]

Grand Masters

Main article: Grand Masters of the Knights Templar

Starting with founder Hugues de Payens in 1118–1119, the Order's highest office was that of Grand Master, a position which was held for life, though considering the martial nature of the Order, this could mean a very short tenure. Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon Hugues de Payens, also Hughes de Payns Hughes de Pagan (English Hugh of Payens or ""Hugh Pagan"" (c All but two of the Grand Masters died in office, and several died during military campaigns. For example, during the Siege of Ascalon in 1153, Grand Master Bernard de Tremelay led a group of 40 Templars through a breach in the city walls. The Siege of Ascalon took place in 1153, resulting in the capture of that Egyptian fortress by the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Bernard de Tramelay (died August 16, 1153) was the fourth Grand Master of the Knights Templar. When the rest of the Crusader army did not follow, the Templars, including their Grand Master, were surrounded and beheaded. ^[56] Grand Master Gérard de Ridefort was beheaded by Saladin in 1189 at the Siege of Acre. Gerard of Ridefort (died October 1, 1189) was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from the end of 1184 until his death in 1189 The Siege of Acre was the first confrontation of the Third Crusade, lasting from August 28, 1189 until July 12, 1191, and the

The Grand Master oversaw all of the operations of the Order, including both the military operations in the Holy Land and Eastern Europe, and the Templars' financial and business dealings in Western Europe. In the Military sciences a military campaign is a term applied to large scale, long duration significant Military strategy plan incorporating Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' Some Grand Masters also served as battlefield commanders, though this was not always wise: several blunders in de Ridefort's combat leadership contributed to the devastating defeat at the Battle of Hattin. The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July The last Grand Master was Jacques de Molay, burned at the stake in Paris in 1314 by order of King Philip IV. Jacques de Molay (est 1244–5/1249–50 – 18 March 1314) was the 23rd and officially last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the ^[26]

Temple Church, London. The Temple Church is a late 12th century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights As the chapel of the New Temple in London, it was the location for Templar initiation ceremonies. In modern times it is the parish church of the Middle and Inner Temples, two of the Inns of Court. The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as Barristers The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts of Justice in London which may call members to The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations to one of which every barrister in England and Wales (and those judges who were formerly barristers It is a popular tourist attraction.

Legacy

See also: List of places associated with the Knights Templar

Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal, present)

With their military mission and extensive financial resources, the Knights Templar funded a large number of building projects around Europe and the Holy Land. With their military mission and extensive financial resources the Knights Templar funded a large number of building projects around Europe and the Holy Founded in 1318 the Military Order of Christ (previously Real Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo) was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal Many of these structures are still standing. Many sites also maintain the name "Temple" due to centuries-old association with the Templars. ^[57] For example, some of the Templars' lands in London were later rented to lawyers, which led to the names of the Temple Bar gateway and the Temple tube station. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person Temple Bar is the barrier (real or imaginary marking the westernmost extent of the City of London on the road to Westminster, where Fleet Street (extending Temple is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, between Victoria Embankment and Temple Place Two of the four Inns of Court which may call members to act as barristers are the Inner Temple and Middle Temple. The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations to one of which every barrister in England and Wales (and those judges who were formerly barristers A barrister is a Lawyer found in many Common law Jurisdictions that employ a split profession (as opposed to a Fused profession) in relation The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts of Justice in London which may call members to The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as Barristers

Distinctive architectural elements of Templar buildings include the use of the image of "two knights on a single horse", representing the Knights' poverty, and round buildings designed to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos

Modern Templar organizations

By papal decree, the property of the Templars was transferred to the Order of Hospitallers, which also absorbed many of the Templars' members. In effect, the dissolution of the Templars could be seen as the merger of the two rival orders. ^[58]

The story of the secretive yet powerful medieval Templars, especially their persecution and sudden dissolution, has been a tempting source for many other groups which have used alleged connections with the Templars as a way of enhancing their own image and mystery. ^[59] Since at least the 1700s the York Rite of Freemasonry has incorporated some Templar symbols and rituals,^[4] and has a modern degree called "the Order of the Temple". The term York Rite is a term most often used in the United States of America to refer to a collection of Masonic degrees that in most other countries are conferred separately The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, founded in 1804, has achieved United Nations NGO status as a charitable organization. The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ is the United States affiliated Grand Priory of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH which The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The definition of charitable organization, and of charity varies according to the country and in some instances the region of the country in which the charitable organization operates ^[60] There is no clear historical link between the Knights Templar, which were dismantled in the 1300s, and any of these other organizations, of which the earliest emerged in the 1700s. However, there is often public confusion and many overlook the 400-year gap.

Legends and relics

Main article: Knights Templar legends

The Knights Templar have become associated with legends concerning secrets and mysteries handed down to the select from ancient times. The secrecy around the powerful medieval Order of the Knights Templar, and the speed with which they suddenly disappeared over the space of a few years has led to many A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to Rumors circulated even during the time of the Templars themselves. Freemasonic writers added their own speculations in the 19th century, and further fictional embellishments have been added in modern movies such as National Treasure and Kingdom of Heaven, video games, and best-selling novels such as Ivanhoe and The Da Vinci Code. National Treasure is the first movie in the National Treasure franchise and is a 2004 Adventure film from Walt Disney Pictures written Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 Epic film, directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. Ivanhoe is a Novel by Sir Walter Scott. It was written in 1819 and set in 12th century England, an example of Historical fiction The Da Vinci Code is a controversial mystery / detective Novel by US author Dan Brown, published in 2003 by Doubleday ^[4]

The Dome of the Rock, one of the structures at the Temple Mount

Many of the Templar legends are connected with the Order's early occupation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and speculation about what relics the Templars may have found there, such as the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish plate or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers The Ark of the Covenant (אָרוֹן הָבְרִית ʔārōn hāb’rīθ, Modern aron habrit) is described in the Bible as a sacred container wherein ^[4][14][55] That the Templars were in possession of some relics is certain. Many churches still display relics such as the bones of a saint, a scrap of cloth once worn by a holy man, or the skull of a martyr: the Templars did the same. They were documented as having a piece of the True Cross, which the Bishop of Acre carried into battle at the disastrous Horns of Hattin. The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which by a Christian tradition are believed to be from the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July ^[61] When the battle was lost, Saladin captured the relic, which was then ransomed back to the Crusaders when the Muslims surrendered the city of Acre in 1191. ^[62] They also possessed the head of Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon. The Greatmartyr Euphemia, known as the All-praised is a Christian Saint, who was Martyred for her faith at Chalcedon, c ^[63] The subject of relics also came up during the Inquisition of the Templars, as several trial documents refer to the worship of an idol of some type, referred to in some cases as a cat, a bearded head, or in some cases as Baphomet, generally explained as a French misspelling of the name Mahomet (Muhammad). Baphomet is a name of unestablished origin It first appeared in trial transcripts during the Inquisition of the Knights Templar in the early 1300s IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics ^[4][64]

The supposed idol worship was included in the charges brought against the Templars leading to their arrest in the early fourteenth century. ^[65] This accusation of idol worship levied against the Templars has also led to the modern belief by some that the Templars practiced witchcraft. ^[66]

There was particular interest during the Crusader era in the Holy Grail myth, which was quickly associated with the Templars, even in the 12th century. The first Grail romance, the fantasy story Le Conte du Graal, was written in 1180 by Chrétien de Troyes, who came from the same area where the Council of Troyes had officially sanctioned the Templars' Order. Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting Perceval the Story of the Grail (Perceval le Conte du Graal is the unfinished fifth romance of Chrétien de Troyes. Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and Trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. There have been a number of councils held at Troyes: 867 - proclaimed that no Bishop could be disposed without reference to the Holy In Arthurian legend, the hero of the Grail quest, Sir Galahad (a 13th-century literary invention of monks from St. The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the Legends that concern the Celtic and legendary History of Great Britain, especially those Sir Galahad is a knight of King Arthur 's Round Table and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. Bernard's Cistercian Order), was depicted bearing a shield with the cross of Saint George, similar to the Templars' insignia. In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox In a chivalric epic of the period, Parzival, Wolfram von Eschenbach refers to Templars guarding the Grail Kingdom. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. Parzival is a major medieval German Epic poem attributed to the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, written in the Middle High German ^[67] A legend developed that, since the Templars had their headquarters at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, they must have excavated in search of relics, found the Grail, and then proceeded to keep it in secret and guard it with their lives. However, in the extensive documents of the Templar inquisition there was never a single mention of anything like a Grail relic,^[13] let alone its possession by the Templars. In reality, most scholars agree that the story of the Grail was just that, a fiction that began circulating in medieval times. ^[4][14]

One legendary artifact that does have some connection with the Templars is the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud of Turin (or Turin Shroud) is a Linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have been physically traumatized in a manner consistent In 1357, the shroud was first publicly displayed by the family of the grandson of Geoffrey de Charney, the Templar who had been burned at the stake with Jacques de Molay in 1314. This article is about the Templar who died in 1314 For his nephew who died in 1356 see Geoffroi de Charny. The artifact's origins are still a matter of controversy. In 1988, a carbon dating analysis concluded that the shroud was made between 1260 and 1390, a span that includes the last half-century of the Templars. Radiocarbon dating is a Radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring Radioisotope Carbon-14 (14C to determine the age of ^[68] Disagreement over the proper dating continues. ^[69]

See also

• Knights Hospitaller
• Teutonic Knights

Notes

References

• Barber, Malcolm. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Malcolm Charles Barber (b March 4, 1943) is a scholar of medieval history described as the world's leading expert on the Knights Templar. The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple. Cambridge University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-521-42041-5.
• Barber, Malcolm. The Trial of the Templars, 1st edition, Cambridge University Press, 1978. ISBN 0-521-45727-0
• Barber, Malcolm. The Trial of the Templars, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-521-67236-8
• Barber, Malcolm (1992). "Supplying the Crusader States: The Role of the Templars", in BZ Kedar: The Horns of Hattin. Jerusalem and London, 314-326.  
• Burman, Edward. Edward Burman (born May 6, 1947) is an English author born in Cambridge. The Templars: Knights of God. Destiny Books, 1986. ISBN 0-89281-221-4.
• Frale, Barbara. "The Chinon chart—Papal absolution to the last Templar, Master Jacques de Molay". 2004. Journal of Medieval History 30 (2): 109–134. The Journal of Medieval History is a major international academic journal devoted to all aspects of the history of Europe in the Middle Ages. DOI:10. 1016/j. jmedhist. 2004. 03. 004.
• Hietala, Heikki. The Knights Templar: Serving God with the Sword, 1996, Renaissance Magazine. Renaissance Magazine is a glossy American magazine published every other month
• The History Channel, Decoding the Past: The Templar Code, November 7, 2005, video documentary written by Marcy Marzuni
• The History Channel, Lost Worlds: Knights Templar, July 10, 2006, video documentary written and directed by Stuart Elliott
• Martin, Sean, The Knights Templar: The History & Myths of the Legendary Military Order, 2005. History, formerly known as The History Channel, is a Satellite and Cable TV channel, with shows on historical events and persons&mdashoften For the Canadian Cartoonist, see Sean Martin (cartoonist. Sean Martin (b ISBN 1-56025-645-1.
• The Mission. "Science and the Shroud: Microbiology meets archaeology in a renewed quest for answers", Spring 1996.
• Newman, Sharan. The Real History Behind the Templars. Berkeley Publishing Group, 2007. ISBN 978-0-425-21533-3.
• Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Templar: A New History. Sutton, 2001. ISBN 0-7509-2517-5
• Picknett, Lynn and Prince, Clive. Lynn Picknett is a writer researcher and lecturer on the paranormal the occult and historical and religious mysteries The Templar Revelation, 1997, ISBN 0-684-84891-0.
• Read, Piers Paul, The Templars. Piers Paul Read (born March 7 1941) is a British novelist and non-fiction Writer and Author. Da Capo Press, 1999. ISBN 0-306-81071-9.

Further reading

• Barber, Malcolm. "Who Were the Knights Templar?". Slate Magazine, 20 April 2006.

• Brighton, Simon (2006-06-15). In Search of the Knights Templar: A Guide to the Sites in Britain (Hardback), London, England: Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 0-297-84433-4.  
• Butler, Alan and Stephen Dafoe, The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present, Templar Books, 1998. ISBN 0-9683567-2-9.
• Partner, Peter. The Knights Templar and their Myth. Destiny Books; Reissue edition (1990). ISBN 0-89281-273-7.
• Ralls, Karen. The Templars and the Grail, Quest Books, 2003. ISBN 0-8356-0807-7.
• Smart, George. The Knights Templar: Chronology, Authorhouse, 2005. ISBN 1-4184-9889-0.
• Upton-Ward, JM. The Rule of the Templars: The French Text of the Rule of the Order of the Knights Templar. The Boydell Press, 1992. ISBN 0-85115-315-1.

External links

• BBC Radio 4 'On the Trail of The Templars' Program audio, first broadcast 2007-06-18
• The medicine of Knights Templars
• The History of the Knights Templar, by Charles Addison, 1842
• The Crusades Wiki