Source: “Cracking the Symbol Code: The Hidden Messages Within Church and Renaissance Art”, By Tim Wallace-Murphy, Watkins Publishing, London, 2010.
9. The Hidden Streams - Secrets of the Templars.mp4
9. Decoding the Templars - Unearthing the Secret Gnostic Network Behind a Medieval Empire9.m4a
This topic delves into the founding and true nature of the Knights Templar, suggesting they were far more than a simple monastic military order. It highlights the significant role of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and his family, who, along with Count Hughes I of Champagne, were members of the Rex Deus families—a lineage believed to secretly hold Gnostic beliefs. The text asserts that the Templars' true purpose, beyond protecting pilgrims, was to uncover ancient sacred knowledge, possibly the Ark of the Covenant, hidden beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a mission supported by their excavations there. Furthermore, the chapter details the Templars' astonishing growth, financial prowess, and architectural symbolism, arguing that their extensive wealth and innovative practices, like international banking, were fueled by their "hidden wisdom" and served their ultimate goal of restoring "true Gnostic monotheism" and uniting different faiths. Finally, the source emphasizes the Templars' esoteric symbols and the significance of John the Baptist in their beliefs, concluding that their true Gnostic nature was a carefully guarded secret maintained by an inner circle of Rex Deus initiates.
Topic 1 The Rex Deus Families' Influence on the Church and Bernard of Clairvaux In the early twelfth century, the Rex Deus families, who held a deep animosity towards Church dogma, began to exert significant influence on the Church. A pivotal event signaling this bid for power was the unusual decision made by the family of Bernard de Fontain. Initially resistant to Bernard's intention to join the struggling Cistercian Order, his family abruptly reversed their stance. This dramatic change of heart led to Bernard, his elder brother (the family heir), two younger brothers, and his uncle, Knight Gaudri of Touillon, along with thirty-two other male relatives and friends, joining the Cistercian Order in 1112. This influx of new members from the Rex Deus group more than doubled the size of the Cistercian Order, demonstrating an unprecedented outburst of religious fervor among these families. The vast majority of these new recruits owed feudal allegiance to Count Hughes I of Champagne, another prominent scion of the Rex Deus group.
Topic 2 Bernard of Clairvaux's Rapid Ascent and Esoteric Teachings Bernard de Fontain, subsequently known as Bernard of Clairvaux, quickly rose to an unparalleled position of leadership within the Church of his era. He became a personal advisor to a pope who had been his former pupil and wielded immense influence in secular affairs, offering counsel to kings, emperors, and powerful nobility. His profound dedication to initiatory teaching was openly acknowledged. He preached over 120 sermons based on King Solomon's Song of Songs and extended the reach of this teaching by providing spiritual guidance to the "Children of Solomon." Bernard's rapid accumulation of power in Europe in the early twelfth century indicates a significant, albeit mysterious, role in the Rex Deus group's second phase of power acquisition, which involved the establishment of the Knights Templar.
Topic 3 Count Hughes I of Champagne's Role and Gnostic Connections Count Hughes I of Champagne was not only a leading member of the Rex Deus group but also effectively an independent prince ruling vast lands to the east and south-east of Paris. He was connected by blood and marriage to powerful European royal families, including the Capetian Kings of France, the Norman and Plantagenet Kings of England, and the St Clairs of Normandy and Roslin. Hughes of Champagne actively engaged in Gnostic spirituality, notably by providing protection for the respected Jewish scholar Solomon ben Isaac (Raschi), who founded an internationally renowned Kabbalistic school in Troyes in 1070. After returning from Palestine in 1115, Count Hugh made a substantial land donation at Clairvaux, enabling the new Cistercian Order to establish an Abbey there, with Bernard de Fontain appointed as its first prior.
Topic 4 The Mysterious Foundation of the Knights Templar The true origins of the Knights Templar remain shrouded in mystery, with historical dates often disputed. The first reliable account, provided by Guilliame of Tyre over seventy years later, states that the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon was founded in Jerusalem in 1118 by Hughes de Payen, André de Montbard, and seven other knights. The Order was also known as La Milice du Christ and was ostensibly founded to protect pilgrim routes in the Holy Land. Both Hughes de Payen and André de Montbard, who was also a relative of the Duke of Burgundy and Bernard of Clairvaux's uncle, were vassals of the Count of Champagne. An unconfirmed account from the Principality of Seborga suggests Bernard of Clairvaux released nine individuals, including Hughes de Payen and André de Montbard, from monastic vows in 1117, blessing them before their departure for Jerusalem in November 1118. This account also claims Bernard nominated Hughes de Payen as the first Grand Master. These founding members were intricately linked by family relationships within the Rex Deus network.
Topic 5 Templar Excavations Under the Temple Mount and Hidden Knowledge After their formation, the newly established Templar Order was granted quarters on the site of the Temple of Solomon, which became the source of their name. Rather than immediately focusing on their stated purpose of defending pilgrimage routes, the founding members spent nearly nine years excavating beneath the Temple Mount, apparently under the patronage of the King of Jerusalem. This activity suggests they knew exactly where to dig. European esoteric tradition strongly claims they discovered a treasure, various sacred documents, and, according to some accounts, even the Ark of the Covenant. One modern author suggests the Templars found documentation containing thousands of years of knowledge and documents that disproved the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. Templar artifacts were later found in these tunnels by Lieutenant Warren in the early twentieth century, further suggesting the Templars' deep engagement with the site.
Topic 6 Bernard's "In Praise of the New Knighthood" and the "New Means of Salvation" Nine years after the Templars' foundation, Bernard of Clairvaux penned a discourse about the Order titled "In Praise of the New Knighthood," addressed to Hughes de Payen, one of the co-founders and the first Grand Master. In a notable closing remark of this document, Bernard wrote: "Hail, land of promise, which, formerly flowing only with milk and honey for thy possessors, now stretchest forth the food of life, and the means of salvation to the entire world." This statement is considered peculiar because, within Church doctrine, the crucifixion of Christ had already achieved mankind's salvation, a doctrine Bernard had seemingly dedicated his life to uphold. This led to speculation that the "new" means of salvation Bernard referenced might refer to the anticipated discovery of ancient sacred knowledge hidden within the Holy Land, perhaps a cache of documents whose location Bernard was already aware of.
Topic 7 Formal Papal Recognition and the Templar Rule Upon completing their excavations, the Templars swiftly returned to Europe. At Hughes de Payen's behest, King Baldwin II of Jerusalem formally requested Bernard of Clairvaux to intercede with the pope for official papal recognition of the Order. Bernard was uniquely positioned for this, serving as the principal advisor to Pope Honorius II and having been his former teacher. Hughes de Payen and his fellow co-founders traveled to Provence, England, and then Scotland, where they stayed with the St Clairs of Roslin. King David of Scotland notably donated land at Ballantrodoch (renamed Temple) to the new Order, which became its Scottish headquarters. The Templars quickly received further land donations across Christian Europe, endorsed by both St. Bernard and the pope. Pope Honorius II commanded his legate, Cardinal Matthew d'Albano, to convene a council of Church and temporal dignitaries to legalize the Order and establish its first religious rule. The Council of Troyes commenced on January 14, 1128, and on January 31, Hughes de Payen and his knights appeared to receive their new 'Rule,' which had been written by Bernard of Clairvaux.
Topic 8 Templar Independence and Power through Papal Bulls A decade after the Council of Troyes, Pope Innocent II issued the papal bull Omne datum optimum. This crucial decree made the Knights Templar directly answerable to the pope and the pope alone, through their Grand Master. This effectively freed them from the authority of local bishops, archbishops, kings, and emperors. Such unprecedented autonomy protected the Templars from any interference by local prelates or princes, thereby making them the most independent religious Order in the Christian world. This unique position soon enabled them to become the most powerful Order, not only in terms of military might but also in immense wealth.
Topic 9 Gnostic Interpretations within the Templar 'Rule' and Dedications When Bernard of Clairvaux drafted the Templar's 'Rule,' he included a specific requirement for all knights to make "obedience to Bethany and the house of Mary and Martha." This particular instruction has led many scholars to believe that the great Notre Dame cathedrals, which were financed or influenced by the Templars and Cistercians, were not primarily dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as commonly taught by the Church. Instead, it is thought they were dedicated to Mary Magdalene and the son of Jesus. In esoteric tradition, Mary Magdalene is revered as "the symbol of divine wisdom." The Nazorean tradition depicts her dressed in black, similar to a priestess of Isis, wearing Sophia's crown of stars, with her infant child adorned with a golden crown of royalty. This interpretation reinforces the idea of underlying Gnostic beliefs within the Order.