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A Brief Templar History
The order called Knights of the Temple, Knights Templar,
or Poor Knights of Christ of the Temple of Solomon, later
to be known as Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of
Jerusalem, traces its tradition and history to the year
1118. Founded by Hugues de Payens, Geoffroy de Saint-Omer,
André de Montbard, Gondemare, Godefroy, Roral, Geoffroy
de Bissol, Payen de Montdidier and Archambaud de Saint-Agnan,
all of whom were chevaliers of France who had served under
Godefroy de Bouillon, the Order was created in the early
days of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, when the crusaders controlled
only a few strongholds. Pilgrims depended upon the Knights
to provide a means for their safe passage through the Holy
Land. The Knights consecrated themselves to the protection
of Christian pilgrims and the defense of the Holy Land against
barbarian aggressors, accepting monastic vows under the
Patriarch Garimond of France.
For almost two centuries, the good deeds done by these
Knights and their successors in protecting the Holy sites
in Jerusalem, the Holy Land itself, and the routes to the
Holy Land became legendary. The Order grew in strength and
prospered greatly during the crusades, until those jealous
of its financial power violently overthrew it and confiscated
its properties, ultimately executing its Grand Master Jacques
de Molay and many of its other leaders in the year 1314.
The original Order of the Temple ended with the death of
its leaders, but the Templar spirit survived in a misty
and elaborate world of legend and myth. The sacrifices of
the original knights in the name of Christianity; their
vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; and their legendary
fighting prowess offered a vision of purity, honor, and
bravery, that many individuals and organizations have sought
over the seven centuries since then to ally themselves with
that image.
© 2012 The Sovereign Military Order
of the Temple of Jerusalem, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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