Source: “The Knights templar And Scotland”, By Robert Ferguson, The History Press, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, 2011.
6. The Templars' Flight to Scotland.mp4
6. The Vanishing Knights - Unearthing the Templar Escape to Scotland and Bruce's Hidden Allies.m4a
This topic explores the compelling legend of the Knights Templar's escape to Scotland following their persecution in France, offering arguments for why this highly debated event may have actually occurred. It highlights the mysterious disappearance of the Templars' substantial fleet and vast treasure from Paris, suggesting this wealth was clandestinely transported to their ships at La Rochelle before the arrests. The text posits that a significant portion of the Templars and their riches likely sailed to Scotland, a nation whose excommunicated king, Robert I, was in a unique position to offer refuge. While acknowledging the scarcity of direct historical documentation, the source presents various forms of circumstantial evidence, including depositions from Templars themselves and archaeological findings in Scotland, to support the theory of their arrival and potential assistance to Robert the Bruce in the fight for Scottish independence.
Topic 1: The Legend of Templar Flight Before Arrests A widespread legend suggests that even before King Philip IV issued his arrest order on September 14, 1307, and prior to the actual arrests on October 13, some members of the Knights Templar and a portion of their treasury were secretly removed from their Paris Temple. This action is said to have been prompted by a leak of the king's plans by Hugh de Pairaud. The contents of the Paris Temple were reportedly transported, either by land in carts or by river down the Seine, to La Rochelle, where the Templars maintained their fleet. From this port, the knights and their riches are believed to have sailed to locations such as Argyll or north-eastern Scotland, or to Portugal. These destinations were chosen strategically because the kings in both Scotland (Robert I) and Portugal (Dinis) were excommunicated, making them less likely to support the Pope or the French king. Furthermore, the Templars already possessed preceptories, houses, and tenements in both of these countries, providing existing infrastructure for their arrival.
Topic 2: Documentation of Templar Fate in Portugal vs. Scotland The fate of the Templars in Portugal is comparatively well-documented. Following the dissolution of the Templar Order, King Dinis of Portugal established a new military order, the Knights of Christ, in 1319. This new order was founded using the former Templar properties and personnel, indicating a clear and documented transition. In contrast, the narrative of the Templars and their activities in Scotland is not as clearly documented. Many consider it to be largely legend or myth. However, the source suggests that even legends and myths often have some historical basis, and there is considerable material to support the idea of a Templar presence in Scotland after October 13, 1307, and their purported involvement in the pivotal Battle of Bannockburn.
Topic 3: Mysteries Surrounding the Templar Fleet and Treasury The events surrounding the Templar fleet and treasury present several intriguing anomalies. Firstly, King Philip IV, despite his comprehensive efforts to dismantle the Order, apparently made no attempt to seize the Templars' substantial fleet. Secondly, this fleet, which was considerable, was never subsequently located or accounted for. Thirdly, there appears to be no recorded discussion or official account of the capture of the Templars' immense treasure after their arrest. These three facts collectively lead to the strong inference that the Templar treasure, or at least a significant portion of it, was successfully removed from France prior to the widespread arrests on October 13, 1307.
Topic 4: The Substantial Nature of the Templar Treasury While specific inventories of the Paris Temple's contents at the time of the arrests are lacking, the Templars' financial history indicates their wealth was substantial. For nearly two centuries, the Order had systematically accumulated funds from various sources, including gifts and grants from nobility, profits generated from their extensive estates, spoils of war from their military campaigns, fees from their sophisticated banking operations, and profits from their shipping enterprises. A key factor in their accumulation of wealth was that their profits were not taxed. Before the fall of Acre in 1291, the Paris Temple served as the primary bank and clearing house for money designated for the Middle East. After 1291, with significantly reduced expenses in the Levant, the Templars' main financial objective shifted to accumulating and maintaining funds for a future crusade. This shift suggests that the money held in the Paris Temple must have been immense, potentially enough to fill numerous carts or boats as described in the legends of their escape.
Topic 5: The Absence of Templar Treasure on Arrest Day A notable aspect of the arrests on October 13, 1307, is the lack of any description of King Philip IV or his agents taking possession of the contents of the Paris Temple. There are no accounts detailing the sealing of the Temple or an inventory being taken of its purported riches. This suggests that, at the time of the arrests, there was no tangible treasure, gold, or silver for Philip to seize. While some historians argue that the Templars' true wealth lay in their vast network and potential rather than physical assets, this perspective overlooks the fact that the Templars were known to hold much of Philip's own wealth. Had this royal treasury been present and subsequently moved back to the Louvre, it would have been meticulously recorded in Philip's accounts and used as evidence in the Templar trials. The complete absence of records regarding the capture of any Templar treasure, religious artifacts, or writings after October 13 supports the conclusion that whatever was in the Paris Temple had been removed prior to that morning.
Topic 6: Evidence of Templar Escapes and Warnings Several pieces of evidence suggest that many Templars received warnings and successfully escaped the arrests. Hugh de Châlons, in his deposition, stated that Gerard de Villiers received advance notice of the arrests and subsequently escaped with fifty Templars aboard eighteen galleys. This strongly implies that a significant number of Templars evaded capture. The source also suggests that, given human nature, news of King Philip IV's original order on September 14 would have been quickly and quietly leaked to the Templars. More specifically, Hugh de Pairaud reportedly had knowledge of the entire scheme, encompassing the intentions of both King Philip IV and Pope Clement V. Although initially intended by Pope Clement V to replace Jacques de Molay as Grand Master, de Pairaud, upon learning of the full scope of King Philip's order, realized he had been manipulated to strike a fatal blow against the Order. Repenting his error, he attempted to warn his brethren and urge them to escape, even advising a young knight to leave quickly because a "catastrophe was at hand." Another captured Templar confirmed he had escaped fifteen days before October 13.
Topic 7: The Organized Nature of the Templar Flight The period between King Philip's initial order on September 14 and the widespread arrests on October 13, 1307, provided the Templars with almost a month's notice. This crucial time window allowed for detailed preparation and execution of their escape. It is suggested that specific knights, having received word, initiated preparations. This facilitated an organized, yet subtle, process of moving the Order's wealth and treasure from various locations to the ports. From these ports, the Templars and their assets were then transported to destinations considered safe, particularly Portugal and Scotland, implying a coordinated effort rather than a chaotic flight.
Topic 8: Documented Testimonies of Templar Flight The flight of the Templars is not solely based on myth; it is corroborated by testimony given after their arrests. Although not immediate, these admissions occurred during later trial depositions, specifically between June 29 and July 2, 1308, before Pope Clement V in Poitiers. This papal inquisition had temporarily halted the torture and trials initiated by King Philip in Paris. To appease the Pope, Philip brought seventy-two Templars to Poitiers, allowing the trials to continue under ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Among these depositions, Hugh de Châlons and several other knights confirmed the escapes and specifically stated that Gerard de Villiers had fled with all the Templar treasure previously held by Hugh de Pairaud. The delay in these depositions is attributed to the Templars' fear of being killed by other imprisoned Templars if they revealed what had transpired before the arrests.
Topic 9: Jacques de Molay's Role in Planning the Escape The extensive and evidently well-organized planning involved in the Templar escape points strongly to Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master, as the central figure. As the supreme leader of the Order, only he possessed the authority and capacity to orchestrate such a complex operation, which included the movement of the Templar treasure from Paris to La Rochelle and its subsequent shipment abroad. The evidence gathered suggests that, under his direction, a significant portion of the Templar fleet, presumably carrying the bulk of their wealth, ultimately sailed towards Scotland. This implies a deliberate and high-level decision-making process for the survival of the Order's assets and members.