Our Overwhelming Interest in The Knights Templars

The popularity of the medieval order known as the Knights Templar continues to grow over the years. That modern
increase is due in part to best-selling books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. The
Templars just refuse to fade away, as proven by the recent movie National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage. So just
what is it about the Templars that keeps us going back for more?

Controversy has surrounded the Templars from their very conception. As the founders of what became known as 'military orders', the Templars roots were founded in controversy. Up to that point in history the term was as yet unheard, much
less envisioned. It seemed a very unlikely melding of warring duties of a Knight with those of a Monk.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a Cistercian monk and rising star within the Church was able to greatly influence the Templar's fortune. He took up the Templar cause (some claim he was their creator) and at the Council of Troyes in 1128 he assisted
the Knights to become a recognized order. Those who believe Bernard created the order point to the fact that he was not
only their champion, but personally wrote the Templars Rule of Order. In turn the Templars adopted the Rule of St.
Benedict and the white habit of the Cistercians (to which they added a red cross). The proponents of this belief also
point out that Bernard was related to some of the Templars. This really isn't surprising since many of the original
Templars where of noble birth and Bernard was the offspring of two of the highest nobilities of Burgundy.

The true reason behind their first visit to the Holy Land is also a subject of much speculation. It is argued that there
wasn't any way a group of nine men could help defend King Baldwin's Christian kingdom. Instead they point to the fact
that the Templars spent a lot of time digging in the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The King had assigned the men a portion
of his palace which bordered the Temple Mount and it was from this that they were took the name 'Poor Knights of the Temple', later shortened to Knights Templars. According to myths (mostly modern) the Templars eventually found
something in the mount and that is why they went racing back to France. Some suggest they found knowledge, others
the Ark of the Covenant, but all believe that it caused a showering of gifts in the form of lands and donations by the kings
and nobility of Europe.

Yet, there doesn't have to be some fabulous item(s) found in at the Temple Mount to explain the orders' riches. When it
comes to the wealth of the order it seems some important factors are overlooked. First all new recruits gave up their wealth and lands to the order upon joining, and the nobles who donated to them were extremely devout and/or in need of
absolution. Then there is the obvious solution of them being very shred business men. The church had not only exempted them from normal taxation, they owned land throughout Europe which were used as farms, vineyards, mines, etc. The Templars also performed the services of a modern bank. They gave out vouchers and loans, with most of the kings of
Europe being in debt to them at one point or another.

Their power stemmed from both their wealth and the fact that they were one of the most effective fighting force in the world. The Templars were a force to be reckoned with, if not feared. In an age when knights were routinely ransomed by their captors, the Templars understood that their capture meant death for their creed forbid them ransom. In battle these knights were the first in and the last to retreat, but the condition of that retreat dictated that they had to be outnumbered three to one.

The Templars fall from grace may be the real reason for the continuing controversy and why it refuses to die away. The
gross injustice of their capture and execution still resounds through the centuries. It can't be denied that the order had
grown arrogant and perhaps even corrupt, but the cruelty inflicted upon them was unconscionable by any standard. They
had faithfully laid down their lives for the church time and again only to be betrayed by the very institute they served. The
result of their loyalty was the church branding them heretics and ordered their arrest. King Philip of France, acting with the approval of the Pope had the Templars arrested on a Friday the 13th, 1307. A day that would forevermore be known as unlucky. This enduring superstition may be indicative of how the people of the time felt about the Templars arrest, torture
and execution.

The real intrigue is where did the Templars go after the warrant went out for their arrest. In terms of numbers very few Templars were actually incarcerated. It is said that the night before their arrest a wagon trail of Templars left the compound and headed for18 ships harbored at La Rochelle in southern France. When the king's men went to the port, they found
that the ships had already sailed away. The fleet simply sailed into the mist of time, never to be heard from again. No
records have been located that would tell us what became of the ships, but there is plenty of speculation. As to the orders wealth King Philip expected to find there was no trace. Nor was he to gain all the lands as he expected, for most of the Templars holdings went to other orders like the Knights of St John.

There really are so many factors that play into our love of the Templars story. Who among us isn't capture just a little by
the image of these noble knights? The intrigue and mysterious disappearance of the Templars are only a small part of
their continuing mystic. What really insures the legacy are the Templars themselves. Their courage, strength, and
devotion are indeed the stuff that legends are made of.

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