The Knights Templar

 Since the earliest days of Christianity, there was a desire to see the holy places where the prophets, the disciples and Jesus himself taught and died. St Helena, the mother of King Constantine, went in search of ancient holy sites and relics. When Jerusalem was taken by Islam, Pilgrims who set out for this long, dangerous and arduous journey were often robbed and sometimes killed on route. Seeing this difficult situation, nine French knights, all related, formed in 1118 AD a brotherhood for the protection of these dedicated pilgrims. They were led by Hughes of Payens and Godfrey of Bouillon. The Templar title comes from accommodation on Temple Mount given to them and for their defence of this holy site. They rose to prominence during the time of the first Crusades. These were a series of wars fought under the banner of Christ either for the recovery of the land or in defence of Christian holy sites. They wore a white cloak with a red eight pointed Maltese cross on the left shoulder. In 1130, with the support of Saint Bernard and money coming from the Christian world, their meteoric rise began. They were to become a major political and financial fighting force.

 

A great deal of the wealth from the Templats was amassed over the years through the inheritance of land and property given by those wishing to support influential forces. The Templars were Europe’s first international bankers, and they invented the cheque system for pilgrims to collect cash anywhere on their journey. In Europe, their knowledge also assisted cathedral building, communications, sea voyages, and corn, sheep and land use. Templars owed their first property in England to King Stephen I and his wife Matilda of Boulogne. Matilda was interested in the crusading order as she was the niece of Godfrey of Bouillon and his influential brother Baldwin. 

In 1137 she granted to them, the Manor of Cressing, and the area of Cowley (now a car manufacturing centre) near Oxford. From the beginning, the Templars in England grew and flourished, and they became owners of large estates throughout the country. They did useful work in business, and were the first bankers and custodians of records. By the 13th century the exclusive area of London St John’s Wood belonged to the Templar knights. 60 Grove End Road is still the headquarters of the Knights of Malta in Britain. 

The order was suppressed in 1312 after an inquisitional process, managed by Pope Clement V and Philip the Fair of France. This involved torture and forced confession. The following charges were brought against the order - sodomy, atheism, and blasphemy. Philip of France massacred the 54 chief Templars and in 1314 abolished the Order. After prolonged debates by historians, it’s generally agreed that the Templars were innocent of all charges. Their daily obligatory attendance at public mass, their prayer life throughout the day and night, their donation of family property and their oaths of a life of deprivation and pledge to fight to the death in the holy land, accounts for their integrity. 

Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk