Forged By: Maggie the Great, Maria the Kind, Paige the Royal

The Knights Templar

Movies

In 1096 Pope Urban II launched a military expedition to take the Christian Holy Land from Muslims (and their ruler Saladin)

By 1100 Crusaders owned land from Sinai Peninsula to Northern Syria

Pilgrims made journey to holy places believing the Crusaders could help them

Many knights lost their lives throughout the crusades

Crusades

A group of 9 knights presented themselves to Huges de Payens to start the order

Took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience yet were devoted to war (got fear and respect)

Slow start couldn’t get many people to helpAfter 1126 they got support and

were one of the wealthiest groups

1165 built a string of castlesDidn’t retreat unless they were

outnumbered 3 to 1

Templars beginnings

Bernard of Clairvaux helped the Templars with their financial situation

Turks were violent and on constant attack Mainly fought Muslim groups to protect pilgrims The knights came from all across Europe- very diplomatic Holy war- new concept at the time Main structure built in Jerusalem built supposedly where

Solomon’s temple was Equally dedicated to prayer and holy duties as war Took a vow of poverty, though Knights of Templar were wealthy

A New Perspective

(During their Peak)Templars were very

wealthyPrinces in fact even

owed money to the Templars

This money gave them power – Rome’s power over them was rarely enforced

Money

Templar DressWore red cross to recognize

them as Templars

1st religious military order

Held meetings in secret, secretive possessions

Poor Fellow – Soldiers of Christ

Knights of Templar-Knights of the Temple

What were they?

Muslim enemies pushed them out of JerusalemTemplars fought to their deaths

Now that Holy Land was out of their hand they retreated to Europe – made Europe’s Kings nervous

New Templar center of power = FrancePhillip the IV of France

Needed Money and concerned by Templar’s powerWanted them taken out, but couldn’t do it without Pope’s

consent and permissionTook out 2 popes than put in a pope that wouldn’t get in his

wayFriday April 13th Phillip Constables confiscated all

Templar property and arrested all Templars

Downfall of Templars

Templar knights have become something of secrecy, due to their hardened reputation

Coincide with church of FreeMasonsToday they are a service organization in the

United StatesMany practices (such as banking) influence

our practices of today

How the Knights Live On

http://faculty.smu.edu/bwheeler/Ency/templar.html

Knight By Christopher Gravett

History Channel In Search of History: Knights Templar

http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-templar-history.htm

Bibliography