Rachel Evans
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, was a military order of the Catholic faith. They were founded in 1118 to protect pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem and existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages. The order was officially disbanded in 1307 and never officially re-established. While several organizations claim to be the actual Knights Templar, none have a genuine historical connection to the original order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Military order of the Catholic faith | To glorify God through fighting today's enemies of society, namely disease and social distress |
| One of the most important military orders in Western Christianity | To defend those who cannot defend themselves |
| Founded in 1118 to defend pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem | To conquer the Holy Land of Jerusalem |
| Officially endorsed by the Catholic Church | To preserve their physical chastity |
| Became a favoured charity throughout Christendom | To live without personal property |
| Templar knights wore distinctive white mantles with a red cross | To keep the customs of the order |
| The Order of Christ and the Supreme Order of Christ of the Holy See are considered successors to the Knights Templar | |
| The Knights Templar were disbanded in 1307 | |
| Several organizations claim to be the Knights Templar |
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What You'll Learn
The Knights Templar were a Catholic military order
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a Catholic military order. Founded in 1118, they existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages. Their headquarters were located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, above what was believed to be the ruins of the Temple of Solomon.
The Knights Templar were an important military order in Western Christianity. They were established to defend Christian pilgrims on their journeys to Jerusalem, where they had their headquarters. The Templar knights, distinguished by their white mantles with a red cross, were highly skilled fighting units during the Crusades. They were known for their bravery, even in the face of much larger Saracen armies. In addition to their military prowess, the Templars were prominent in Christian finance, with non-combatant members managing a vast economic infrastructure throughout Christendom.
The Templars were officially endorsed by the Catholic Church through decrees such as the papal bull Omne datum optimum issued by Pope Innocent II. They became a favoured charity, gaining widespread support and growing rapidly in membership and power. The order attracted the attention of King Philip the Fair of France, who sought to seize their wealth. In 1307, the king's constables arrested thousands of Templars, marking the beginning of the order's demise.
Following the arrests, the remaining Templars in Europe faced investigation by the Papal authorities. Some were absorbed into other Catholic military orders, while others were allowed to live out their days in peace. The property of the Templars was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller, another Catholic order involved in the Crusades.
While the original Knights Templar no longer exist, various organizations today claim to be successors or revivalists of the order. These groups, often referred to as "Templar," have no genuine historical connection to the original order and are not officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church.
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They were founded in 1118 to defend pilgrims
The Knights Templar, a Catholic religious order formally known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, was indeed founded in the year 1118. The order came into being to protect Christian pilgrims on their journeys to and from the Holy Land. The founding of the Knights Templar is often attributed to a French knight, Hugues de Payens, who, along with eight other knight companions, established a monastic and military order based in the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Knights Templar quickly gained support and recognition from the Catholic Church, particularly from Bernard of Clairvaux, a prominent Cistercian abbot, who wrote in support of the order in his work "In Praise of the New Knighthood."
In the context of the time, the founding of the Knights Templar was a significant development. The Crusades were ongoing, and the protection of Christian pilgrims traveling to sites such as the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was a crucial concern. The Knights Templar dedicated themselves to ensuring the safety of these pilgrims, providing armed escorts and establishing strongholds along the routes commonly traversed by those making their pilgrimages. Their efforts contributed significantly to the support of the Crusader states and the broader aims of the Crusades.
The year 1118, when the Knights Templar were founded, marked a period of relative stability in the Holy Land following the First Crusade. Jerusalem had been under Christian control since 1099, and the establishment of the Knights Templar provided a dedicated force to help maintain this Christian presence. The order's founding was approved by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, who granted them quarters in the royal palace, which was believed to be built on the site of the former Temple of Solomon, hence the order's association with the temple.
The defense of pilgrims was a central aspect of the Knights Templar's early activities. They established a network of fortifications, including castles and commanderies, along the pilgrimage routes. These strongholds served as refuges for pilgrims and provided a means to control and protect the roads and surrounding areas. The Knights Templar became renowned for their military prowess and discipline, attracting new members and support from across Europe. Their reputation grew, and they became an integral part of the Crusader military forces.
The founding of the Knights Templar in 1118 to defend pilgrims was a pivotal moment in the history of the order and the Crusades more broadly. It marked the beginning of a dedicated and highly disciplined military force that would play a significant role in the conflicts to come. While the order would eventually face dissolution and suppression in the 14th century, its early foundations and contributions to the protection of pilgrims remain a key aspect of its legacy. The Knights Templar, in their early years, embodied the ideals of religious devotion, military skill, and the protection of Christian interests in the Holy Land.
As the years progressed, the Knights Templar would evolve and their roles would expand, but their founding principles remained rooted in the defense of pilgrims and the support of the Crusader states. Their story, beginning in 1118, is a testament to the enduring impact of religious and military orders in the medieval world.
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They were officially disbanded in 1307
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, were officially disbanded in 1307. They were a military order of the Catholic faith, founded in 1118 to defend pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. They were headquartered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which was believed to be the site of the ruins of the Temple of Solomon.
The Knights Templar were officially endorsed by the Catholic Church and grew in membership and power, becoming one of the most important military orders in Western Christianity. They were known for their distinctive white mantles with a red cross and served as skilled fighting units in the Crusades. However, in 1307, King Philip the Fair of France engineered the arrest of the Templars in order to seize their vast wealth. The fighting men of the order were on the border with Islam in Spain and Cyprus, making their arrest relatively easy.
Following the arrests, the remaining Templars in Europe were either arrested and tried under the Papal investigation, absorbed into other Catholic military orders, or allowed to live out their peaceful lives. The property of the Templars was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller, except in the Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal. In Portugal, King Denis I refused to persecute the former knights, and Templar organizations simply changed their names, with the Order of Christ and the Supreme Order of Christ of the Holy See considered their successors.
While the original Knights Templar order was officially disbanded in 1307 and never returned, several organizations today claim to be the true successors or revivals of the Knights Templar. However, none of these organizations have a genuine historical connection to the original order and are not officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church.
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Some organisations claim to be the Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, was a military order of the Catholic faith. They were founded in 1118 to protect Christian pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem and existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages.
The Knights Templar were disbanded in 1312, and the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned to death in 1314. However, there are numerous organisations today that claim to be connected to or descended from the original Knights Templar.
One such organisation is the OSMTJ Grand Priory of England and Wales, which has been described as a "level-headed group of people doing charitable work". Other organisations include the OSMTH, Knights Templar UK, and the Templari Cattolici d'Italia, a private Catholic lay association of the faithful living and promoting the spirituality of the Knights Templar of old.
Some groups claiming to be the Knights Templar have been criticised for their extremist views and attempts to radicalise teenagers. For example, an organisation calling itself the Knights Templar International has been accused of infiltrating video game chat rooms to promote hate crimes.
It is important to note that none of these organisations have a genuine historical connection to the original Knights Templar, and the Catholic Church has not officially sanctioned any modern Templar groups.
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The Knights Templar are associated with the Holy Grail
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, was a military order of the Catholic faith. They were founded in 1118 to protect pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages.
The Knights Templar have long been associated with the mythical Holy Grail. This association can be traced back to 12th-century fiction, such as Wolfram von Eschenbach's "Parzival," where the knights guarding the Grail Kingdom are called templeisen, a fictionalized version of the Templarii. In his work, Eschenbach adds to the world established by earlier writers such as Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes, expanding the characters' adventures and giving them a unique flavour.
In the stories of Chrétien de Troyes and Wolfram von Eschenbach, the Grail is described as an indistinct object, taking the form of a plate, stone, bleeding lance, or goblet. These objects serve as metaphors for Jerusalem and the kingdom of Heaven. However, as time went on, writers like Robert of Boron began to imagine the Grail as something more specific: the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper and the vessel used to collect his blood by Joseph of Arimathea.
The Templars are often depicted as the guardians of the Grail in legends, either as an artifact or a bloodline. One popular legend suggests that the Templars discovered and protected the Grail during the Crusades, finding it beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and bringing it to Europe. Another theory, known as the Living Grail, proposes that the Templars uncovered the secrets of Jesus Christ's lineage and have guarded this knowledge to the present day.
While the Knights Templar were officially disbanded hundreds of years ago, some modern organisations claim to be the successors or revival of the original order. However, these groups have no genuine historical connection to the Templars and are not officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Knights Templar have not existed for over 700 years. The order was officially disbanded in 1307 and never officially re-established.
The Knights Templar were arrested in 1307 by King Philip the Fair of France, who engineered the election of the Pope and seized Templar estates. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned to death in 1314, marking the end of the Templars.
The remaining Templars were either arrested and tried under a Papal investigation, absorbed into other Catholic military orders, or allowed to live out their days in peace.
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, was a military order of the Catholic faith. They were founded in 1118 to defend Christian pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and played a prominent role in the Crusades.
Yes, there are several organisations today that claim to be the Knights Templar, including Masonic, Catholic, charitable, and esoteric groups. However, none of these organisations have any genuine historical connection to the original Knights Templar.
