Knights Templars

[morbidstorm]

What are your thoughts on the Knights Templars? Heretic 'masons' ready to take over the World? or a society misjudged by a jealous King (Philip VI) who was jealous of their wealth and power?

[Kim A]

Ooh, this question should bring the conspiracists out of the woodwork!

[Octavius]

I think that generally people just got fed up with them. They accumulated vast amounts of cash and possessions left by people at the preceptory on their way to pilgimage in the Holy Land. This wealth enabled the templars to expand and buy vast amounts of land and create animosity amongst the nobles and eventually Philip (the Fair).

In addition to this, the people in the holy land who had paid for it could no longer be protected by them seeing as they lost Jerusalem to Saladin, it all led to their eventual downfall. Much like the monasteries in the reformation, they were just too big for their boots and no medieval noble or king liked that.

[dot.hawkes]

'The order of the poor knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon' originally the temple was built in 950 BC, but it was started by his father David to house the Ark of the Covenant, this is a significantly important temple and king Baldwin of Jerusalem gave Hughes de Payens and his nine knights this as their sparse accommodation. They took 3 solemn vows or poverty, chastity and obedience and to perpetually protect the pilgrims coming to Jerusalem.
The news of the valiant Knights spread and the romantic ideal caused the wealthy across europe to send support in the form of money and land, a papal blessing followed and this led to their legend as the protectors of the Holy Land.
their numbers grew and within 100 years hey became one of the wealthiest and most influential bodies in Europe, almost as much as the Pope. They owned lands in England,Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Austria. They became bankers , arranging a way of credit that meant wealthy travellers need not carry gold or coinage with them but a credit cheque to cash at the next city. These notes used an encoding systtem that could not be counterfeited.
But the Muslims conquered the Holy Land in the 13th C defeating the Templars at Acre in 1291, they returned to Europe wealthy but now with no cause, they were owed alot of money by the Royal houses across Europe, much of that debt was by The King of France.
The people that owed them money were also powerful and they conspired to charge the Order with heresy and the mud stuck, the Templars were captured tortured and destroyed and their wealth confiscated by those that owed them.

[Octavius]

Well I think Henry III would have been pretty miffed at having to pawn the Crown Jewels to the templars in order to cover his debts to them.

[dot.hawkes]

well he shouldn't have borrowed so much in the first place if he couldn't afford the repayments, he should have cut his cloth accordingly. but then maybe they should have checked him out with experian first i guess.

[yassa]

Another group of people who got greedy. The idea of the protector was good, but as per usual, it all goes tits up.
The masons and illuminate are the new age Templars and they are getting their own back on us for thier fore fathers slaughter. And you can't more greedy than them ********. We live on top of each other, whilst they live where ever they want, how many Somalians live next door to them?

[morbidstorm]

Thanks guys, its an age long discussion between me and my friends. Apparently Friday 13th comes from the day they were all arrested by ol Phil the Fair across France! I find it somewhat strange that some of the wealth accumulated by the seizure of Templar goods was given to the Hospitalliers! Who are still around to this day and headed by a British aristocrate i believe (and a relative of Quenn Liz II)