FREE ESSAY ON KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

The Knights Templars was a religious military order whose secrets and wealth destroyed the
organization. The order had several names, and the members had several titles. The
Knights Templars started out as a small group of monks. Members had duties and certain
lifestyles as Templars. The order rapidly spread across Europe. During the second
crusade, the Templars fought for the Christian effort. After the second crusade the
knights became very powerful and wealthy. The order was destroyed, yet it still lives on
today. The Knights Templars were hidden in darkness and secrecy, and they will always
remain a mystery.
The Holy Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon is the full name
of the Order. Most paraphernalia refer to them as the Knights Templars. Some call the
members just Templars, or warrior monks. The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the
Temple of Solomon is another name used. People back in the time of the crusade would have
called them heroes. 
After the first crusade two new military orders arose in Jerusalem. One, the Knights
Hospitallers, or Knights of Saint John, whose task was to aid the wounded in Outremer, or
the land across the sea. Saint John's Ambulance Service derives from the Hospitaller
legend. The second military order to arise was the Knights Templars, whose duty was to
defend the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. 
In 1118 Hugues de Payan and eight fellow knights went to Jerusalem and offered their
services to the king, Baldwin 1. King Baldwin offered housing to the knights at the
former mosque al-Aqsa, which was located on the site of King Solomon's great temple. The
order received its name from this fact. Templars took vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience to the Grand Master, or president. Each Templar wore a typical white robe with
the red Maltese cross insignia. Chainmail armor was worn in battle. The Templars fought
bravely against the Saracens, not leaving battle unless outnumbered three to one. The
order received the blessing of the Pope in 1129, and the Templars soon got recognition as
heroes.
With the Pope's blessing, the Templars could now recruit members and raise money through
donations. Donations came to the Templars in large amounts. The warrior monks were given
wealth, jewels, and property. King Alfonso 1 of Argon gave the Templars one-third of his
Spanish Empire on his deathbed. They owned land in France, Spain, England, Italy,
Germany, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, and other places. 
Men also went to the Templars to support their cause, and some in hopes of getting rich.
The Knights Templars did have their critics though. Some felt they were unchristian,
killing hundreds of people, including women and children. They held meetings in secret,
which frightened some individuals. It was unknown what was held in their secret meetings.

The second crusade was underway and the Templars fought on the Christian side. Military
and financial support was given on their behalf. They fought an Islamic fanatical group
known as the Assasins. The Assasins showed no mercy, they killed more than the Templars.
Slowly but surely the Christians began to loose territory. In 1187, at the battle of
Hattin, 25,000 Christians were defeated by 60,000 Islamic troops led by Saladin. The
moors recaptured Jerusalem and the Templars relocated. They went to Acre and eventually
left Outremer all together. The remaining Templars fled to Limassol, where they created a
new headquarters. 
The Templars were no longer fighting, and they therefore sought a new task. The Templars
owned houses all across the map, and they used that to their benefit. The Knights
Templars became the first bankers. Travelers would deposit money at one Templar building,
and travel, with a statement of deposit, to another city. They would then cash in their
statement and receive the same amount of money at another 
Templar structure at their final destination. This was a very safe method, because the
traveler couldn't get robbed. The Templars began to escort travelers on their fleets of
ships. The Pope freed the Templars from loyalty to any ruler, from then on the order only
answered to the Pope. The Templars became involved with politics. They served on royal
committees and councils. The duties of a Templar split. In the east they remained fierce
warriors defending Christianity, and in the west they became farmers, financiers, travel
agents, and businessmen. 
The order was rapidly gaining wealth and riches. This is believed to have led to their
downfall. The Knights Templars were said to posses a great secret. This secret may have
been practical knowledge, which if revealed could undermine Christianity. Some people
believe that the Templars had some great relic. A piece of the true cross, the crown of
thorns worn by Jesus, the shroud which Jesus was wrapped in his tomb, a piece of wood
from a bath used by Jesus, a bronze bowl used to wash the feet of the disciples at the
last supper, the head of John the Baptist, and the Holy Grail used in the last supper are
all relics thought to be owned by the Templars. It is truly unknown whether or not the
Templars had any of these artifacts. Maybe they had one, or two, possibly all, but nobody
can be certain. With the amount of land and money that the Templars had, and the possible
possessions of great relics, specifically the Holy Grail, people were bound to envy the
order. 
Philip IV of France, or Philip the Fair, was one person who wanted the wealth of the
Templars. He was in debt to the Templars for a loan he had taken, and what better way to
eliminate your debts than to eliminate the person you owe. Philip came up with false
charges against the Templars; such as heresy and treason. He accused the order of devil
worshipping, spitting on the cross, and worshipping decapitated heads. Pope Clement V,
owing Philip for his position in the church, granted Philip permission to persecute the
Templars. On Friday, October 13th 1307 a warrant of arrest of all the Templars was
issued. In today's society Friday the 13th is considered unlucky, and this is why. Many
Templars were arrested, they did not resist, but that was only in the area of France.
Knights Templars elsewhere had enough time to take their riches on their fleet of ships
and sail away. Philip took Templar lands, buildings, and churches; but he couldn't find
the riches. The inquisition tortured the members in prison, killing hundreds, but there
were no confessions. Jaques de Molay, the Grand Master, was arrested. He confessed to the
monstrous charges to the inquisition. He was to confess in public, but in front of a
large crowd he denounced all his confessions. He stated that he confessed only to escape
torture. On March 18th, 1314, Jaques de Molay was burnt at the steak for heresy and
treason. With his last words he cursed both Philip IV and Pope Clement V. Within a year
both were dead. The Holy Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon
was destroyed. Philip the Fair wanted the Templar wealth, and to avoid his debts. 
The Templars are still said to be in existence today. The Templars that escaped capture
probably went underground. The Templars are said to exist under a different name.
Freemasonry today shows similarities of the Knights Templars. Christopher Columbus sailed
the seas with the Templar insignia on his sails. The skull and crossbones of pirates is
another Templar symbol. Lacking in supplies, they turned to theft of other ships for
survival. It is a true mystery as to weather the Templars possessed great relics, but the
conspiracy was the cause of their downfall.