Source: “The Templars and the Grail: knights of the quest”, By Karen Ralls, Quest Books, Theosophical Publishing House, 2003.
3. The Knights Templar - Blueprint of a Holy Order.mp4
3. Beyond the Myth - The Knights Templar's Hidden World of Power, Piety, and Progressive Secrets.m4a
This topic delves into the complex organization and spiritual life of the Knights Templar, beyond their famed warrior status. It reveals a hierarchical administrative structure spanning Europe and the Holy Land, headed by an elected Grand Master with significant, though limited, power. The text also highlights the Templars' rigorous daily routine of prayer and discipline, guided by their detailed Rule, which mandated a balance between spiritual devotion and martial readiness. Furthermore, the document explores their profound reverence for the Virgin Mary, their innovative architectural contributions, particularly in the Gothic style, and the surprising, albeit limited, inclusion of women as associates within the Order.
Topic 1 The Templar Order's administration was structured hierarchically, similar to other medieval military Orders. At the apex was the Grand Master, based at the Order's headquarters in the Holy Land, supported by major officers, each with their own staff. In Europe, the Order's vast territories were divided into provinces, each overseen by an area commander. These commanders, in turn, supervised the Masters responsible for individual houses. The primary role of these Western houses was to supply men, money, and provisions for the brothers fighting in the East. General chapter meetings facilitated communication between officials in both regions, which was crucial given the Order's widespread presence and the challenge of managing members speaking multiple languages.
Topic 2 The Grand Master of the Templar Order was elected for life. Once chosen, he was no longer a common knight but a figure of significant stature, entitled to four horses and an entourage. This retinue included essential personnel such as a chaplain, two knights, a clerk, a sergeant, a servant for his shield and lance, a farrier, a Saracen scribe (who served as an interpreter), and a cook. When traveling, he was accompanied by a large staff and commanded great respect. His great seal was double-sided, displaying the circular dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on one side and the Order's symbol of two knights on one horse on the other, symbolizing the defense of the Holy Sepulchre and their identity as "poor knights of Christ." A smaller, single-sided seal also featured the Holy Sepulchre dome.
Topic 3 The election process for a Grand Master was elaborate and aimed at selecting the most suitable candidate. After the funeral of the previous Grand Master, provincial Templar officers from the East would convene in Jerusalem to appoint a Grand Commander to govern temporarily. To reflect the Order's international nature, officers from various countries would select an electoral college of thirteen individuals. These thirteen, symbolizing Christ and his twelve disciples, typically comprised eight knights, four sergeants, and one chaplain, chosen to represent the diverse nationalities within the Order. Following a night of prayer, they would select the new Grand Master, often aiming for someone already in Outremer, though this was not always the case. The new Master was acclaimed, carried to the chapel, and offered to God. This election theoretically followed the papal bull Omne datum optimum (1139), which stipulated that only a professed brother could be chosen by all or the "sounder and purer part" of the brothers. The process emphasized choosing the right person over speed. Despite the structured process, historical records indicate that at least seven of the twenty-two Grand Masters were appointed under the direct influence of a secular ruler. The electoral conclave's proceedings were meant to be kept secret until the result was announced.
Topic 4 The Grand Master possessed significant power, though subject to certain limitations. Major decisions, such as engaging in war, agreeing to truces, alienating land, acquiring castles, or appointing commanders, required consultation with the Chapter. He could withdraw up to 3,000 besants from the treasury for journeys to places like Tripoli or Antioch, but only with the permission of the Commander of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, who acted as the treasurer and held the keys to the treasury. The Grand Master served as the spiritual head of the Order and would lead Templars into battle when present. He also had considerable say in the distribution of funds. As the primary representative of the Order to the outside world, he needed strong political acumen and diplomatic skills.
Topic 5 Beyond the Grand Master, several other major officers held crucial positions within the Templar Order. The Seneschal was the Grand Master's deputy or "right-hand man," responsible for carrying the famed beauseant, the Templars' black-and-white banner, in ceremonies. Like the Grand Master, he had his own staff and horses. The Marshal served as the chief military officer, overseeing individual commanders, horses, arms, equipment, and all military operations. He also managed the critical tasks of obtaining, ordering, and distributing supplies during the Crusades. The Commander of the Kingdom of Jerusalem functioned as the Order's treasurer, managing the strong room and sharing power with the Grand Master to prevent excessive control over funds. He oversaw all non-military assets, including pack animals, houses, villages, and the ships and storage vaults at Acre. The Draper was responsible for issuing clothes and bed linen and distributing gifts. He maintained the famed white mantles and ensured all brothers were dressed appropriately, even having the authority to remove items if a member possessed more than was proper, upholding the New Knighthood concept of simple living.
Topic 6 The Templar Order comprised various ranks, primarily knights and sergeants, whose status often depended on their social standing before joining. By the mid-twelfth century, Templar knights, identifiable by their white mantles, largely formed an almost exclusive caste, requiring knightly descent. Sergeants wore black tunics with a red cross on the front and back, and black or brown mantles. Within the sergeant ranks, there was a further division: while many were part of the fighting force, some were "serving brothers" who performed essential non-military roles as craftsmen, blacksmiths, masons, and cooks. Beyond these, the Order also hired outside personnel for specific functions, meaning that full-fledged knights constituted only a minority of the overall membership.
Topic 7 New entrants into the Templar Order underwent a standardized process of equipment and attire. They relinquished their outside clothes to the Draper and were then provided with a uniform set of armor, clothing, and equipment. For knights, armor included a helmet, a mailed hauberk covering the head and body, and iron hose and solerets for leg and foot protection. This mail was reinforced with espaliers, which were metal shoulder protectors, and the entire ensemble was worn over a padded, likely leather, jacket. Knights also received various weapons: a sword, a shield, a lance, a "Turkish" mace, a dagger, a bread knife, and a pocketknife. Their basic clothing consisted of two white mantles and a heavy cloak. Each knight was typically allocated three horses and a squire, with the possibility of an additional horse and squire at the Master's discretion. Squires were crucial for maintaining horses, armor, and equipment, as the Templars were renowned for mounted warfare. Initially, squires were hired outsiders, a policy that was later changed.
Topic 8 The Templars were governed by a comprehensive set of regulations known as the Rule, which evolved significantly during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Originally based on deliberations at the Council of Troyes in 1129, and influenced by the Cistercian abbot St. Bernard of Clairvaux, it incorporated elements from the Rule of St. Augustine and St. Benedict. Bernard's specific influence was notable, with some aspects directly modeled on the Cistercian Rule. Written in French, it included a translation of the original Latin Rule to ensure accessibility for recruits who often lacked Latin proficiency. The Rule had seven main sections: the Primitive Rule, Hierarchical Statutes, Penances, Conventual Life, the Holding of Ordinary Chapters, Further Details on Penances, and Reception into the Order. While it expanded into a military manual by the mid-1160s, the knights' spiritual life and obligations always remained the foremost priority. Unfortunately, the original Latin manuscripts are believed to have been destroyed during the arrests in France in 1307.
Topic 9 The Templar Order maintained strict disciplinary rules, with penalties for various infractions. Two main forms of punishment existed. "Losing one's coat" (mantle) was a penance of shame, where a guilty brother was stripped of his coat, weapons, and horse, forced to eat from the floor, perform menial tasks, and be separated from his brethren. This was imposed for offenses like losing a horse through neglect, unauthorized lending of Templar assets, or sexual relations with a woman. More severe infractions resulted in outright expulsion from the Order, the harshest penalty. These included murdering a Christian, revealing chapter meeting secrets to outsiders, committing heresy or denouncing the Christian faith, conspiring to make false charges, leaving the Templar house for more than two days without permission, or abandoning the battlefield while the black-and-white beauseant banner still flew. Notably, an expelled Templar knight was not simply cast out but was obligated to join another monastic order, specifically the Cistercians, to save his soul, highlighting the close ties between the two institutions.