Source: “Rosslyn: The Story Behind Rosslyn Chapel” By Andrew Sinclair, 2005
Knights of the Stone Grail and Bannockburn.wav
This podcast explores the historical trajectory and potential influence of the Knights Templar, particularly after their dissolution, focusing on their connection to Scotland and the lore of the Holy Grail. It highlights the Templars' military prowess, adapting both Eastern and Western tactics, and their significant role as bankers and merchants, accumulating vast wealth that ultimately contributed to their downfall. The source then delves into the theory that refugee Templars sailed to Scotland and Portugal, potentially bringing with them treasure, archives, and esoteric knowledge, which may have influenced figures like Robert the Bruce and the construction of Rosslyn Chapel. Finally, the text examines the origins and symbolism of the Holy Grail as a stone, drawing parallels between various cultural and religious traditions, including connections to Islamic belief and ancient mythology, suggesting a blend of influences on the Grail legend and the Templar legacy in Scotland.
Topic 1 Early Frankish Military Superiority In the 8th century, the Frankish knights achieved a significant victory against the advancing Muslim forces from Spain at the battle of Poitiers in 732. Charles Martel's Austrasians demonstrated the effectiveness of heavily armored men against the lighter, mobile cavalry and curved bows of the Saracens. The sources describe the Frankish knights standing like an unmoving wall, like a belt of ice, slaughtering the unarmored Saracen cavalry that charged into their ranks. The Austrasians, noted for their large size and strength, were particularly effective, hewing bravely in the thick of the fight and locating and cutting down the Saracen King. This encounter highlighted the future dominance of heavy cavalry, which were seen as the "tanks of their time," in contrast to the Parthian tactics and weaponry (like the scimitar and curved bow) that had previously been effective against Roman legions in the Near East.
Topic 2 Knights Templar in the Crusades The dynamic of heavily armored Western forces against lighter Eastern forces was frequently repeated during the Crusades and the ninety years of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. The sources note the surprising longevity of the Christian hold on Syria and Palestine, maintained by only a few thousand mailed knights operating from castles and walled cities. These knights, particularly those of military orders like the Knights Templars, were described as almost impervious to most weapons except the javelin. Wearing double-layered mail shirts and riding armored horses, they were devastating in combat, wielding two-sided axes, broadswords, and maces. The crossbow, used by Genoese archers, was also a potent penetrating weapon, its bolts more deadly than arrows from Arab horn bows. However, the Muslim scimitar with its damascene blade held an advantage in close combat over Frankish daggers and short swords. Despite their effectiveness, the Templars faced challenges, as seen in Saladin's victory at the Horns of Hattin in 1187, where they were surrounded without water, subjected to fire and arrows, which killed horses and foot-soldiers alike. Despite furious charges, they were overwhelmed, and Saladin notably ordered the beheading of all knights from the Military Orders, recognizing how few had held so much Arab land for so long.
Topic 3 Templar Transformation and Decline Following the fall of Jerusalem after Saladin's victory in 1187, the surviving Templars lost their original primary purpose, which was to guard the Temple of Solomon site and protect pilgrims to Christian holy places now under Muslim control. Although the Order continued for another 120 years, they had to find a new role. They retreated to coastal areas, building fortresses and preparing for another attempt on Jerusalem. However, increasingly, the Templars transitioned into roles as merchants, bankers, and administrators of their vast estates across Europe. By the 13th century, they were the leading bankers and owned approximately nine thousand tax-exempt manors. They were crucial in providing security for the transport and safekeeping of gold and silver treasure, even for Muslims. The Paris Temple became a major center of the European money market. This accumulation of wealth, combined with their arrogance, secrecy, and alleged heresy, ultimately contributed to their downfall. They were perceived as both the "poor knights of Christendom" and wealthy conspirators, leading to envy among princes and the populace.
Topic 4 Templar Heresy and Esoteric Beliefs The sources indicate that as the Knights Templars grew in wealth and power, their questioning of orthodox faith became more complex, and they began to challenge societal conventions and the Papacy's authority. They evolved from being simply warriors of the Holy See and the Cistercian Order into something seen as avenging angels. Their Grand Masters were thought to communicate directly with the divine. They are described as becoming a "church within the Catholic Church" and a "state within the royal State," indicating a move towards independence and internal authority. Among the Military Orders, there was an inclination towards heresy and a belief in Sophia, the divine female intelligence, which resonated with their cult of chastity and the individual pursuit of truth. Officially, they worshipped the Virgin Mary, emphasizing her impregnation by divine essence without human male involvement. Some Templar practices were believed to derive from oriental mysticism, possibly through contact with groups like the Sufis, including a belief in selfless obedience and purity. There was speculation they had discovered arcane knowledge or sacred wealth at the Temple of Solomon site in Jerusalem during their long tenancy.
Topic 5 The Downfall of the Templars and Escape King Philip IV of France initiated a systematic seizure and destruction of the Knights Templars, described as being as efficient as later historical coups. However, the sources state there is no record that Philip IV successfully found the Templar treasure in Paris, their secret archives, or their fleet, which was primarily based at La Rochelle in Brittany. Much evidence and tradition suggest that the treasure and most of the archives were removed on ships before the arrests. Refugee Templars are believed to have taken these assets to Portugal and the west and east coasts of Scotland, where they were welcomed. A confession, reportedly extorted by torture and threat, from a French Templar Knight, John de Châlons, stated that Gerard de Villiers, a Preceptor under the Treasurer, knew in advance of the mass arrests and fled the Paris Temple with fifty knights on eighteen Templar galleys. This confession also mentioned another knight, Hugh de Châlons, fleeing with the Treasurer's hoard. Both Gerard de Villiers and Hugh de Châlons reportedly escaped the initial arrests and were captured days later, but whatever they had taken was already gone.
Topic 6 Templar Presence and Legacy in Scotland Those Templar knights who successfully sailed away are described as voyaging to Scotland and Portugal. In Scotland, they were particularly welcomed by figures like the St Clairs and other landowners in Midlothian, near their chief presbytery at Balantrodoch (now the village of Temple). It is believed they brought their treasury and remaining archives from the Paris Temple to Scotland. French Masonic tradition suggests nine vessels took records and wealth to the Isle of May, while others believe they went via Ireland to the Western Isles. Authorities in Ireland reportedly found Templar presbyteries stripped bare. At the time, Robert the Bruce, who was excommunicated and fighting the English King Edward II, welcomed them, needing their support and potentially weapons supplies, much to the complaint of the English King. Archaeological evidence, such as Templar graves and tombstones bearing Templar and Masonic symbols, has been discovered in areas like Argyll, Fife, and Lothian, suggesting a significant Templar presence. Bruce only put two Templars on trial in 1309, who testified their colleagues had fled overseas. The fortunes and wealth of the St Clair Lords of Rosslyn are said to have dramatically improved after the arrival of the refugee Templars. While direct proof of treasures being kept or communicated exists in continental discoveries, the connection between Templars and the St Clairs in Scotland is strong. Some sources suggest refugee Templars might have assisted Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Topic 7 The Grail as Depicted in Parzival Wolfram von Eschenbach's Grail romance, 'Parzival', is highlighted as a key source for understanding the Grail as depicted in the context of the Military Orders and the East. In this work, the Grail is not a chalice, but a sacred stone. Wolfram claimed his source for the story derived from a Jewish mystic named Flegetanis in Moorish Toledo, who discerned the mystery of the Grail by watching the stars. The Grail is identified as a green stone that fell from heaven after the battle between Lucifer and the Trinity, being the most brilliant gem in Lucifer's crown (whose name means "bearer of light"). This stone has strong affinities with the sacred Islamic black stone at the center of Mecca, which is also believed to be a meteorite fallen from heaven and a means of communication with God. The stone in Parzival is guarded by the "best of knights," identified as "Templeise" wearing white surcoats with red crosses, directly linking them to the Templar Knights. This Grail stone possesses miraculous powers, providing nourishment and granting eternal youth to those who look at it daily for a hundred years, preventing aging. Wolfram also calls this stone Lapis Exilis, a term identified by some alchemists as the Philosopher's Stone. The story features themes of dualism, the reconciliation of Christianity and Islam, and the idea of a divine stone linked to creation and divine inspiration, drawing on Greek, Jewish, and Islamic mythology.
Topic 8 Connections between Templars and the Grail The source heavily suggests a connection between the Knights Templars and the Grail tradition, particularly through Wolfram von Eschenbach's 'Parzival', where they are explicitly identified as the guardians of the Grail stone. Beyond the romance, there is a potential link through the Templars' acquisition and transport of holy treasures. After Islam conquered Jerusalem, the Patriarch Heraclius was allowed by Saladin to take sacred treasures, many adorned with gold and jewels, to the Templar castle at Acre, which served as the Order's strong-room. This collection potentially included the spoils of Constantinople from the Fourth Crusade. Notably, the Holy Shroud and the Holy Veil of Veronica are mentioned as potentially passing into Templar possession, along with golden vessels containing the cloths of the Passion. These vessels, having held the Body and Blood of Christ, were reportedly given the name "Grails." After the fall of Acre and the Templar flight from Palestine, these precious objects were carried overseas. The Templar treasury was later moved from Cyprus to Marseilles and then to the Temple in Paris. Thus, the sources link the Templars to the potential possession of actual religious artifacts referred to as Grails, connecting their financial activities (banking wealth potentially founded on excavated Temple treasures) with the legendary Grail and their role as its guardians in romance.
Topic 9 The St Clairs of Rosslyn and Robert the Bruce's Struggle The St Clair Lords of Rosslyn were staunch allies of Robert the Bruce in his fight for the Scottish Crown against the English and their Scottish allies. The sources mention their support for Bruce against the English puppet king, John de Balliol, and King Edward I. Sir William St Clair and his son fought alongside figures like Sir John Comyn and Sir Simon Fraser in the multi-division battle near Rosslyn against Edward I's army, achieving victory. Sir Henry St Clair, son of Sir William, fully committed to Bruce's cause after Wallace's execution, aligning against the Comyns who sided with the English. Bruce's excommunication by the Pope after killing John Comyn in a church made him vulnerable, but the St Clairs remained loyal. The St Clairs were integral to Bruce's efforts, providing military support and potentially logistical aid, especially after the arrival of refugee Templars in Scotland. Their fortunes dramatically improved after Bannockburn, receiving land grants and other benefits. The St Clairs of Rosslyn held significant positions, becoming law masters of Scottish crafts and guilds and guardians of royal treasures, suggesting a deep trust and elevated status within Bruce's realm, possibly facilitated by the wealth and connections brought by the Templars.
Topic 10 The Battle of Bannockburn (1314) The Battle of Bannockburn was a pivotal moment in Scotland's struggle for independence, where Robert the Bruce faced the invading King Edward II. The battle took place on St John's Day. After preliminary skirmishes, including Bruce's personal feat of killing an English knight in single combat, the Scottish army advanced in schiltrons – dense formations of spearmen and axe-carriers. They strategically chose their ground, digging concealed ditches three feet deep and wide, covered with hurdles and screened by grass, designed to trap cavalry but allow infantry passage. English forces, arrayed with cavalry in front, followed by infantry and archers, and the King in the rear, charged impetuously. The English cavalry's horses were caught in the hidden ditches, causing riders to fall and be slaughtered. The English archers, positioned behind their men-at-arms rather than on the flanks, were ineffective and even hit their own side. The Scottish spearmen proved highly effective against the heavy cavalry charges. A crucial moment involved a flanking attack by Welsh archers being scattered by Scottish light horsemen. The final stage saw a disputed intervention where a new Scottish force, possibly yeomen and camp-followers making noise, along with potentially some refugee Templars, charged, turning the English retreat into a decisive rout. The Scottish victory at Bannockburn confirmed Scottish freedom and Robert the Bruce as king.