In Defence of the Poor Knights

I will begin this post with a brief declaration: I am not a traditional Christian. While I recognise that I have a soul, I currently lean more toward agnosticism than anything else. Therefore, what follows should be understood in this context. I wanted to share this post as a defence against the toxic speculation surrounding the Knights Templar, which often includes sensational claims about them disrespecting crucifixes, having a collection of severed heads, indulging in homosexuality, praising Sophia, fearing the Demiurge, Jesus hooking up with Mary Magdalene and so on. Incidentally, the subjects of feminine veneration within the culture of the time were the Church, the soul (referenced in the Song of Solomon) and mother Mary not Mary Magdalene. The idea of an apostles apostle was of great interest, without a mother however, Christ could not have existed. In regard to wild theories surrounding initiation ceremonies, if you want to envision the nature of a Templar knights entry to the Order consider the initiation of a monk into his new life—baptism, resurrection, perhaps a dark retreat: nothing salacious and all really rather obvious. The purpose of this piece is as an expression of common sense rather than sensationalism. 

As with all large organisations, the Templar Order was a microcosm of the society it served. A small percentage of any organisation may not fully meet expectations in terms of performance and/or ideology. I am sure that some knights strayed from the path laid out by Bernard and Hugues, but the overwhelming majority who held true to Christ and the Latin rule should not be regarded in the same light as these few. To do so would unjustly validate King Philip IV and Pope Clement V's accusations (retracted by the Pope before his death) of heresy. 

It is essential to begin by grasping the spirituality and ideology of the permanent Templar knight, a warrior driven by honour, his spirituality influenced by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. St. Bernard was an open-minded man, but also very committed to the Church. During his career, he resolved a schism within the Church, which ultimately contributed to the election of Pope Innocent II. It is generally accepted that the formal papal establishment of the Templar Order was a result of these efforts. Innocent II's successor, Gregory, happened to be one of Bernard's former students. The extent to which Bernard, the Abbot of Clairvaux, managed to work on Church reform while simultaneously expanding the Cistercian Order and influencing the Templars seems almost impossible. Nonetheless, this is precisely what he accomplished while nurturing and developing his faith. 

This then leads us to consider the meaning of heresy during that time. To be guilty of this sin, one only had to deny that the Word was made flesh, that Christ was the incarnate Son of God who walked among humanity to understand its suffering. While it was entirely permissible to study other religions, examine the Old Testament, consider the historical Jesus of Nazareth, John the Baptist the 'First Messiah', the Gospel of James, and the importance of Mary Magdalene, these investigations remained interesting sidebars that did not impact the core tenets of Christ and Christianity: love, forgiveness, and redemption. If the Templars truly believed in the demiurge, Sophia, and the non-existence of Jesus, they would indeed have been considered heretics of their time. Moreover, it would render their defence of the Holy City, its surroundings, and pilgrims somewhat nonsensical. If the counterargument relates to bloodlines, one need only look to the British royals to see how easily a lineage can become corrupted in a relatively short time period. Judging the entire Order by its outliers is a mistake; one I have made myself.

The 1307 Parisian trial featured accusations from the tortured and those weaker in mind and spirit. Those who testified against the Templars often compromised their honour for safety or, worse, profit. The terrible accusations that Jacques de Molay and his brothers ultimately denied have, unfortunately, become entrenched in the narratives created by many who write about the Knights Templar. Most of these thrilling accounts filled with tales of occultism, mastery of alchemy, and severed heads merely uphold the position of the Iron King, who burned these innocent men of impeccable honour and virtue at the stake for their alleged crimes. I feel this creates a rather interesting paradox, similar to the informants King Philip exploited; these authors appear to me to be motivated by a desire for reputational and financial gain from one of the greatest injustices in history. 

That brings me to the claimed Templar treasure that some forewarned (?) knights supposedly liberated from their treasury, and with which they escaped France. To me, this seems somewhat unlikely. In my opinion, the removal and transport of a large quantity of gold to the coast for subsequent transportation without discovery appears improbable. I suggest that for Philip to steal the wealth of a holy order outright would be a step too far; whilst the de facto cancellation of debt is one thing, open theft is rarely publicly acceptable. Thus, discovering an empty Parisian Templar treasury seems like a convenient albeit childish subterfuge.

To understand the origin of Templar wealth, we must first grasp the mindset of the medieval person. Life during this period could be very short, and death was a constant companion. As a result, the afterlife and the reduction of time spent in purgatory remained at the forefront of one's mind. Elevating the soul during a lifetime in this realm was a continual objective. People sought this elevation through indulgences paid to the Church—an open source of corruption—pilgrimages, and, particularly for holy Orders, donations of land and wealth before and after death. This latter source of income flowed freely into the Templar coffers following their formal acceptance as a sacred order in 1129. To fight as a secular knight in the Holy Land was considered the ultimate offering; dying on the battlefield guaranteed no time in purgatory and instant admission to heaven, as stated in the first Templar rule. In such an event, the Order would care for the deceased's widow and children, managing their inherited estates. 

The poor knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon always remained true to their honour, viewing their primary objective as defending the defenceless in the name of Christ. Ironically, their downfall was orchestrated by accusations of heresy, leading to their persecution—an act they would never condone or enact themselves.