Archive for July, 2024
On Friday, October 13, 1307, scores of French Templars were arrested, including the order’s grand master Jacques de Molay.
Many of the knights were brutally tortured until they confessed to false charges, which included heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, devil-worshipping, fraud, spitting on the cross and more.
A few years later, dozens of Templars were burned at the stake in Paris for their confessions. De Molay was executed in 1314.
Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V reluctantly dissolved the Knights Templar in 1312. The group’s property and monetary assets were given to a rival order, the Knights Hospitallers. However, it’s thought by some that King Philip and King Edward II of England seized most of the Knights Templar’s wealth. #Knights Templar Rings, #Knights Templar, #Masonic Rings, #Mason Ring, #Blue Lodge Masonic Ring
The Crusades were turned around in the late 12th century when Muslim troops recaptured Jerusalem, necessitating multiple relocations for the Knights Templar. The final Crusader haven in the Holy Land was destroyed in 1291 with the Fall of Acre.
Over the ensuing decades, European support for the military operations in the Holy Land started to decline. In addition, a growing number of secular and religious authorities criticized the wealth and influence of the Templars.
The Knights Templar established a base of operations in Paris by 1303, having lost all of their influence in the Muslim world by then. There, probably as a result of the Templars denying the indebted king more rights, King Philip IV of France decided to dismantle the order.
Though its original purpose was to protect pilgrims from danger, the Knights Templar progressively expanded its duties. They became defenders of the Crusader states in the Holy Land and were known as brave, highly skilled warriors.
The group developed a reputation as fierce fighters during the Crusades, driven by religious fervor and forbidden from retreating unless significantly outnumbered.
The Templars built numerous castles and fought—and often won—battles against Islamic armies. Their fearless style of fighting became a model for other military orders. #Knights Templar Rings, #Knights Templar, #Masonic Rings
The Knights Templars at Work
The Knights Templar set up a prosperous network of banks and gained enormous financial influence. Their banking system allowed religious pilgrims to deposit assets in their home countries and withdraw funds in the Holy Land.
The order became known for its austere code of conduct (which included no pointy shoes and no kissing their mothers, rules outlined in “The Rule of the Templars”) and signature style of dress, which featured a white habit emblazoned with a simple red cross.
Members swore an oath of poverty, chastity and obedience. They weren’t allowed to drink, gamble or swear. Prayer was essential to their daily life, and the Templars expressed particular adoration for the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.
As the Knights Templar grew in size and status, it established new chapters throughout Western Europe. At the height of their influence, the Templars boasted a sizable fleet of ships, owned the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and served as a primary bank and lending institution to European monarchs and nobles. #Knights Templar, #Masonic Rings, #Blue Lodge Masonic Ring,# Freemason Ring
Some ecclesiastical authorities initially criticized the Knights Templar. However, in 1129, the group got support from eminent French abbot Bernard of Clairvaux as well as the official endorsement of the Catholic Church. “In Praise of the New Knighthood,” written by Bernard, extolled the virtues of the Knights Templar and provided support for their expansion.
Pope Innocent II granted the Knights Templar unique privileges in 1139 through a Papal Bull. Among these were the Templars, who were free from taxation, allowed to erect their own cathedrals, and subject to the Pope’s authority alone. #Knights Templar Rings, #Masonic Rings, #Blue Lodge Masonic Ring, #Knights Templar
During the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar were a vast order of pious Christians who undertook a crucial task: protecting European visitors to the Holy Land while simultaneously engaging in military actions. Stories about the Knights Templar, a wealthy, influential, and enigmatic order that has captivated the public and historians for centuries, are still prevalent in modern culture. They are known for their military skill, financial savvy, and role in advancing Christianity during the Crusades. #Knights Templar, #masonic rings, #Blue Lodge Masonic Ring, #Knights Templar