KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HISTORY : OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

RECRUITMENT TO THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.

Our Knights Templar History, continues in 1127 when, Hughes de Payens, left the Holy Land for the west. His aim, of recruiting much needed men and financial backing, together with the full recognition and approval of the Church, was a tremendous success.

About thirty years earlier, a group of monks, who felt that the rigours and simplicity of St. Benedict's Rule, had been replaced by a more secular way of life among the Cluniac communities, left their Monastery, with the intention of forming their Novum Monasterium (New Monastery).

This was the beginning of what was to be, The Cistercian Order of Monks, dedicated to the same ideals, of the strict observance of St.Benedict.

A young nobleman by the name of Bernard, had joined the New Monastery in 1111. Due to a combination of his strong will, his mysticism and his undoubted holiness, the Cistercians were to begin a great age of expansion.

Bernard of Clairvaux (as he would be known) would become one of the most famous and admired people, both spiritual and temporal of his age.

He was a very persuasive man, and he it was, who spoke passionately on behalf of the Knights Templar, at the Council of Troyes, which had been convoked by Pope Honorius II in 1129, and to which he had been assisting.

This was a defining moment in the Knights Templar History, for the Order of the Knights Templar, had been officially recognised by the Church.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HISTORY, RECRUITS, RIGHTS AND PRIVILEDGES

It was here that Bernard traced the outlines of the Rule of The Knights Templar, soon after which, they would become the ideal of Christian nobility.

He was later to praise them in his "DE LAUDIBUS NOVAE MILITIAE", in which he defended the introduction of a religious military order by pointing out it was legitimate and even laudable to take up the sword in defence of oneself, the innocent and the Church. He wrote:

A Templar Knight is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armour of faith, just as his body is protected by the armour of steel. He is thus doubly armed, and need fear neither demons nor men.

They adopted the Rule of Saint Benedict, which had recently been reformed by the Cistercians. They accepted the three perpetual vows, the crusaders vows and also the rules concerning the Chapel, the refectory and the dormitory.

The white habit of the Cistercians, with a red cross on the front, would now become their habit. From now on the fortunes of The Knights Templar were to change dramatically.

Recruits began to join the new Order in droves, due to genuine religious fervour, as well as a military passion to reclaim and guard the Holy Places.

The Knights Templar were favoured in every way, both spiritual and temporal. Recognition by the Catholic Church at Troyes was followed up by the issue of three Papal Bulls, which firmly established them as a privileged order under the protection of the Pope.

The three Papal Bulls were a defining moment in the Knights Templar History. Collectively they gave the Knights Templar a powerful assortment of rights and priviledges.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HISTORY : THE THREE PAPAL BULLS

THE FIRST PAPAL BULL:OMNE DATUM OPTIMUM ("Every perfect Gift"), was issued in 1139 by Pope Innocent II, officially approving the Templar Rule, giving them the protection of the Pope himself.

It also allowed them to keep all the spoils they took in battle with the Muslims, to help pay for the Holy Wars. It also placed any donations they received under Papal protection, thereby granting them exemption from taxation.

THE SECOND PAPAL BULL:MILITES TEMPLI ("Soldiers of the Temple"), issued in 1144 by Pope Celestine II, ordering the clergy to protect the Knights Templar, while also encouraging all Christians to contribute to their cause. It also allowed them to make their own collections once a year.

THE THIRD PAPAL BULL:MILITA DEI ("Soldiers of God"), issued in 1145 by Pope Eugene III, allowing the Templars the right to take tithes and burial fees, the right to bury their dead in their own cemeteries and the right to travel throughout Europe freely.

This unprecedented rise was unique, something not seen before nor has it been seen since.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HISTORY:ACTION IN THE HOLY LAND

Most members of the Order of Knights Templar did not fight. Although their primary purpose was as a Military Order, only a few actually fought in battle.

Most of them took up supportive roles to the Knights, managing all the financial systems which this supportive role required, aquiring the resources to fund and equip their small band of fighting brothers on the front lines.

Because of this well organised system, the highly motivated Knights Templar, were a highly trained, well equipped, elite fighting force.

One of the greatest attributes of the Templars, was to never retreat in battle.

Their philosophy, being soldier and monk, was that martyrdom in battle was the most glorious way to die.

They were forbidden to retreat unless hopelessly outnumbered by at least three to one, and only then if ordered to do so by their Commanding Officer, or if their flag had been captured or fallen.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR HISTORY:THE BATTLE OF MONTGISARD

The fearlessness of the fighting Knights Templar, was demonstrated in the Crusaders victory at the Battle of Montgisard in 1177, where a small band of men annihilated Saladin's army.

This victory justified the dream of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who had declared, that a small band of men could defeat a much larger force, under the right conditions.

Prior to the battle, Saladin who was attempting to advance on Jerusalem with an army of twenty six thousand men, had pinned down King Baldwin of Jerusalem, who had a force of five hundred knights and their entourage, at Ascalon.

A force of eighty Templar Knights with their own entourage, attempted to reinforce King Baldwin. However, they were considered too small a force of men to be worth fighting, so Saladin ignored them and continued on his way to Jerusalem.

As Saladin's army moved, The Knights Templar were able to join up with the forces of King Baldwin and now united, they moved north, following the coastline. Saladin had made a catastrophic error of judgement.

He made a second error of judgement, by allowing his army to spread out thinly, in order to pillage the villages on the way to Jerusalem for supplies.

The Knights Templar took advantage and launched a surprise attack on Saladin and his bodyguard after ambushing them at Montgisard.

The Templars used a favourite tactic of theirs, in which small groups of well armed Knights with their equally well armed warhorses, would charge at full speed, tightly nit together at the enemy.

This suicidal assault would punch a hole through the enemies defences, allowing the following Crusaders to flood through giving total advantage to the attackers.

King Baldwin's small force inflicted huge casualties on the Muslims. They then had to fight a losing battle as they retreated south, but hardly any escaped. The victory was total, the Crusaders had completely destroyed Saladin's army.

The Crusaders pursued Saladin, who had lost ninety percent of his army, until nightfall and then retired to Ascalon.

Saladin retired to Egypt with the remaining ten percent of his army. Knights Templar History:

NEXT PAGE : Decline of the Order of the Knights Templar.

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