The Templars: Why They Captivate Us

The Knights Templar are perhaps the most fascinating and captivating fraternity of knighthood in the Middle Ages. Nothing can eclipse them, not even King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table because unlike Camelot the Templars are verified to have existed in histories, account ledgers, and archalogical finds. The Knights of the Round Table are legend, while the Templars are legendary. Legends may surround the Knights of the Temple, but it is undisputed that the Order of The Knights of Jesus Christ of the Temple of Solomon did exist. But what causes us to be captivated by these miltes christi? Why are Catholics and Protestants alike inspired by a monastic military order that merged Knight and monk; paladin and priest into one? The answer perhaps can be found in the threshold of the Holy Bible itself. Jesus, our Lord and God does mention two qualities that were essential to a Templar Knight: chastity and the sword. Our Lord said, “For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Matthew 19:12) and, “But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!.” (Luke 22:36). These two statements by the Savior have major implications for the Templar Order. Jesus speaks of “eunuchs who choose to be eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven,” which is celibacy and ultimately chastity so as to serve God. The Templars made vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. A Templar Knight was not to consort or spend time in the company of women, nor even hug a mother or sister. As for Christ’s command to “sell a cloak and buy a sword,” this command may have even been fulfilled verbatim by poor Templars who had to sell their only possessions to buy a sword to march to the Holy Land. 

Perhaps it is these very stark and polarizing words of the Prince of Peace that remain in the recesses of our mind and spirit that compel affection for this medieval order, or at the very least curiosity and captivity. The Knights of the Temple also perhaps pull at us because of their tragic end. In the year of our Lord 1307 Anon Domini, The French king, Philip IV devised a plan to lay hold to the masses of wealth the Templars had stored in their European treasuries. Philip had divested and defrauded clergy before in his schemes and so this plot to pillage the Templars wasn’t new, however, the totality and utter ruination Philip brought on the Order exceeded his prior schemes. By 1312 A.D. Jacques de Molay, The last Grand Master (General) of the Knights Templar was burned at the stake and as he committed his soul to Christ in the flames, he cursed Pope Clement V who according to three papal bulls was the only one the Templars could be chastised and punished by and he cursed King Philip IV, prophetically saying both would die in a year for their evil deeds done to the Templar Order, and history records this curse was honored and both the pope and king of France perished within a year. The tragedy of the Templars is perhaps what tantalizes many of us. Like Joan of Arc who also was betrayed and committed to the flames in same manner as Jocques de Molay, The Templars were destroyed unjustly and for greed. Perhaps their fate hearkens are hearts to how Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Christ betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16, Luke 22). That like God Incarnate, goodly people like the Templars spent their lives helping others and making great sacrifices only to be sacrificed on a burning pyre because someone had some money to gain. Judas took thirty pieces of silver for Jesus (), Philip IV took thirty million est. in estates, crops, arms, castles, loans, and etc for the Templars, and later Joan of Arc too would be sold for a price by friends and foes to the English, her enemy. 

The Fall of the Knights Templar reminds us that Holy and good Christians shall suffer and be hated by this world, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Jesus, John 15:19). We marvel at how at first the mob of this world is inspired by the piety of righteous men and women, even lavishing wealth on them for their movement, just as the Women of Galilee did on Jesus (Luke 3:8-9), all of Europe did to the Templars, and then eventually Judas and Caiphas, William of Nogent and Phillip IV of France scheme to be rid of the righteous ones. In our Lord Jesus’ case it was necessary so that He may die for the sins of mankind and rise again from the dead, but as for The Templars, they being martyrs at Hattin to La Rochelle perhaps are among the martyrs waiting their recompense, “ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?"Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters--their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred--had joined them.” (Revelation 6:9-11). Perhaps we shall see in the “armies following the Word of God unto battle,” (Revelation 19:11-16), The mantels of the Knights Templar and a woman in full harness with the banner of heaven (Joan of Arc). Amen.