Medieval Knights of Templar

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

 

The Knights of Templar were a Western Christian military organization created to guide pilgrims safely to the Holy Land. This treacherous journey was littered with criminals awaiting their chances to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers. At first, this organization held few members since each individual of the Templar was required to take an oath of chastity, poverty and obedience.  
The Knights of Templar was formed after the First Crusade took possession of Jerusalem, the Holy Land for many Christians.  Two veterans of this Crusade, Hugues de Payens and Godfrey de Saint-Omer proposed the idea of creating a group of knights who would protect people making the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. King Baldwin II of Jerusalem agreed to this idea and gave the Knights a location for their headquarters on Temple Mount. At first, the Templar had only nine members and was nearly always in extreme poverty, but as their numbers and popularity grew, so did their wealth. In 1139 at the Council of Troyes, the military order was endorsed by the church. This offered them a nearly unending supply of money, land, able-men and businesses. Most everyone associated with the church was willing to give to such a noble cause as the defense of the Holy Land Pilgrimage.
 
While individual men of the Knights of Templar were required to remain in poverty, the organization itself flourished. It set up one of the first banking systems, helping pilgrims make their journey safer. A pilgrim could entrust their money or assets with the Order before their journey. The Order would write out what the worth of the money and assets was, and upon arrival in the Holy Land, the individual could cash in their note for money. This sort of system was a predecessor to banks and checking. This system helped protect the people while they made their journey as they were less desirable to thieves.
 
The Order also developed road systems, built schools and other public buildings with their vast funding. They helped to create a more organized society. The Knights would manage farms throughout Europe and the Middle East. They were even involved in manufacturing, importing and exporting across the Holy Land pilgrimage. They created their own society amongst many societies and for a long time, they thrived.
 
Throughout many battles over many years, the Knights of Templar lost their secured role in the Holy Land and society. Other Christian Military societies grew and fought the Knights of Templar for control. Jerusalem was lost to King Saladin, and so the Templar headquarters had to be moved. The Templar network of homes, business and banking remained intact for quite some time; until European monarchies decided the Knights had too much control.

On Friday, October 13, 1307 King Philip IV of France, already in great debt to the Templar, arrested many Templar Knights, under what are thought to be false accusations. It is said they were arrested for being enemies of Christianity. The Knights were accused of spitting at the cross and going against their strict oaths. Most Knights, under extreme torture, confessed to whatever accusations were thrown at them.

King Philip IV convinced Pope Clement V to issue a mandatory arrest of all Templar Knights and seizure of their assets. Most Templar Knights throughout Europe were arrested and subjected to torture. The majority confessed to the allegations, no matter how false, against them. Dozens were burned at the stake as a result of their forced confessions.