Source: “The Knights templar And Scotland”, By Robert Ferguson, The History Press, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2011.
1. The Knights Templar - Rise of the Warrior-Monks.mp4
This topic delves into the history and nature of the Knights Templar, emphasizing their dual role as "warrior-monks" and highly successful commercial and banking pioneers. It highlights their formation in 1119 to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, their initial poverty and living conditions in Jerusalem, and the mystery surrounding their early activities, possibly involving excavations under the Temple of Solomon. The text meticulously details their austere daily life governed by the "Rule," their rigorous adherence to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and their hierarchical organizational structure. Furthermore, it explores their rise to immense wealth and influence through extensive landholdings, innovative financial practices like the letter of credit, and their significant involvement in various Crusades, ultimately leading to their controversial downfall and dissolution in 1312 by Pope Clement V, largely due to trumped-up charges from King Philip IV of France. The document also speculates on the Templars' potential escape and continued presence in Scotland, along with the fate of their fabled treasure.
Topic 1: Founding and Initial Purpose The Knights Templar began in 1119 as the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. It was founded by Hughes de Payens and Godfrey of Saint Omer with the primary mission of defending Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and other holy sites in the Holy Land. The Order emerged from the First Crusade, which concluded in 1099 with the capture of Jerusalem, leading to a massive influx of pilgrims who required protection along their routes. Initially, the Order comprised just nine knights, including prominent nobles, and their purpose was specifically to assist and protect travelers from marauders, thieves, and displaced peoples who posed threats between the Christian-controlled cities and holy places. This early period was crucial for establishing their identity and gaining credibility.
Topic 2: Warrior-Monks Identity Often described as "warrior-monks," the Knights Templar uniquely combined the life of an active soldier with that of a monk, a concept that went against traditional religious principles forbidding clergy from shedding blood. Their mentor, Abbot Bernard de Clairvaux, who later became Saint Bernard, was a staunch supporter of the Order. In his essay "In Praise of the New Knighthood," written in the early 1130s, he eloquently articulated their unique nature, portraying them as knights who fought both physical adversaries and spiritual wickedness. He noted their ability to be both gentle like a lamb and ferocious like a lion, seeing them as embodying the best of both monastic gentleness and knightly fortitude. This dual identity was central to their mystique and effectiveness.
Topic 3: Daily Life and the Rule The daily life of a Templar Knight was rigorously controlled by a detailed set of regulations known as "the Rule." This Rule dictated an exceedingly austere lifestyle, akin to that of a monk. Templars cropped their hair, grew their beards, and always slept clothed to avoid temptations and remain ready for duty. They ate meat only three times a week and spent a significant portion of their time in silence, with gossip and small talk strictly forbidden. They lived communally in dormitory-like buildings, had no privacy, and were not allowed to use or own locks. Even personal letters had to be read aloud in the presence of a superior. This strict routine, including six liturgical prayers daily starting at 4 a.m., was followed consistently, whether in the Holy Land or in Europe, ensuring a highly organized and devout existence.
Topic 4: Vows and Principles Each Templar Knight took vows of absolute poverty, chastity, and obedience. While poverty was largely assumed and not explicitly codified in a single article, the practicalities of their communal life ensured it, as they owned no personal possessions. Chastity was a very important vow, explicitly stated in the Rule, which warned against looking too much upon women and forbade kissing, emphasizing the need to avoid embraces that could lead to spiritual peril. Obedience was absolute and codified in the Rule, demanding immediate compliance with commands from the Master or his authorized representative, as if the command came directly from Christ. These vows formed the moral and disciplinary backbone of the Order.
Topic 5: Early Housing and Catacomb Excavations Initially, the Knights Templar had no housing. However, upon Hughes de Payens' request, Baldwin I of Jerusalem granted them permission to live in a wing of his palace, located over the catacombs of the former Temple of Solomon. This unusual arrangement fueled later speculation that the Templars' primary purpose during their first nine years was not just pilgrim protection but also excavation within these catacombs. Although the exact findings remain a subject of debate, ranging from the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant to immense wealth or ancient scrolls, historical evidence does confirm that the Templars explored these subterranean areas. Later excavations in the nineteenth century by Lieutenant Charles Warren uncovered various Templar artifacts, supporting the idea of their presence and activities beneath the Temple.
Topic 6: Organizational Hierarchy The Knights Templar developed a sophisticated and bureaucratic organizational hierarchy, complete with specific job descriptions, much like modern large organizations. This structure evolved primarily between 1129 and 1160 and was logically codified in the Hierarchical Statutes portion of the Rule. At the top was the Grand Master, the ultimate leader, whose significant powers were balanced by a requirement for major internal decisions to be approved by a Council of Knights. Second in command was the Seneschal, followed by the Marshal, who managed arms and animals and served as supreme military commander in the absence of higher-ranking officers. Other key positions included the Commander of Jerusalem (also Grand Treasurer), Commanders for various countries, the Draper (quartermaster), and the Turcopolier (light cavalry commander).
Topic 7: Membership Ranks and Roles The Templar Order comprised several distinct levels or classes of brothers. Knights were individuals of noble birth before joining the Order; they took monastic vows, surrendered their property, and wore a white mantle with an eight-pointed red cross. Associates were nobles who joined for limited or fixed terms, such as for a specific crusade, before returning to their secular lives. Sergeants, who had to be free men, served as younger, lightly armed troops or squires to knights and wore a red eight-pointed cross on a brown or black mantle. They often managed Templar properties. Chaplains, who were separate from traditional church authority, conducted religious services and answered directly to the Pope. The largest group consisted of craftsmen and menials, manual laborers, artisans (like stonemasons), and domestic servants, who performed day-to-day work, with baillis notably managing estates in Scotland.
Topic 8: Economic Foundation and Operations Beyond their military role, the Templars were highly effective entrepreneurs, forming what is considered a predecessor to today's multinational conglomerate. They amassed extensive landholdings, including churches, forts, and farms, across Europe and the Holy Land. They became highly skilled in farming, particularly on difficult or less profitable land, often donated by nobles. They also excelled in stonemasonry, a skill so valued that masons were uniquely permitted to wear gloves, unlike other brothers. Their extensive property network allowed them to establish a robust support system for their operations in the Holy Land, supplying men, money, horses, and food from their European bases.
Topic 9: Financial Innovations (Banking and Letters of Credit) The Knights Templar were pioneering multinational bankers. They held significant wealth and money on deposit for monarchs and nobles and provided substantial loans. A key innovation attributed to them was the invention of the letter of credit. This system allowed travelers to deposit money in one location, such as London or Paris, and withdraw the equivalent in a different currency at their destination in the East, eliminating the need to physically transport large sums, which was risky. While the Church prohibited charging interest, the Templars, like other bankers, generated income by charging fees and levying penalties, a practice that was quickly adopted by secular bankers.