The Real History Behind the Tẻmplars

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Praise for

The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code:

“If,likeSamCookesang,you‘don’tknowmuchabouthistory,’Newman’s encyclopedic,AtoZlookattopicsrangingfrom‘Apocrypha’to‘Wren, Christopher’providesperspectiveandinsight.” —PittsburghTribuneReview

“Wittyandcharming,butnonethelessrationalinexplanationandcomplete inbackgroundresearch,TheRealHistoryBehindtheDaVinciCodeseeksnot

somuchtorefutethenovel,buttoelucidateonthetruth,andnotsomuch todisparagethemistakesofMr.Brownbuttomakereadersrealizethatthe historyisbiggerthananyoneperson,popularnovelistsincluded.”

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TheRealHistoryBehindthe

TEMPLARS

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Acknowledgments

ProfessorMalcolmBarber,forhisgenerositynowandovertheyearsinshar inghisprofoundknowledgeoftheTemplarsandforenduringmymany emailquestionsandventings.

ProfessorPaulCrawford,CaliforniaUniversityofPennsylvania,forhishelp ontheTemplars,PhiliptheFair,andtheUniversityofParis.

Dr.RozanneElder,CistercianInstitute,forgivingmeinstantinformation onBernardofClairvaux.

ProfessorNormanHinton,UniversityofIllinois,Springﬁeld,emeritus,for MiddleEnglishreferencestotheTemplars.

ProfessorJanusMoellerJensen,UniversityofSouthernDenmark,forgiving meliterarybackgroundonTemplaridealsinDanishsagas.

ProfessorKurtVilladsJensen,UniversityofSouthernDenmark,foradvice onthelikelihoodofTemplarsinDenmark.

CourtneydeMayo,RiceUniversity,forspendingatediousdaycopyingallof theMarquisD’Albonforme.

ProfessorBrianPatrickMcGuire,RoskildeUniversity,forcheckingmysec tiononDenmarkandtheCistercians.

ProfessorHelenNicholson,CardiﬀUniversity,foradviceonTemplarsand Hospitallersandforreferringmetootherexcellentsources.

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vi Acknowledgments

KyleWolﬂey,BallStateUniversity,forcopyingseveralbooksIcouldn’tﬁnd inmyownlibrary.

AndallthemembersoftheMedievLlist,whodebatedjustwhat“interdict” consistedofwhenIcouldn’tﬁndasolidanswer.

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Rulers of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

BALDWIN II m. MORFIA

1118–1131

MELISANDE m. FULK of ANJOU ALICE m. BOHEMOND of ANTIOCH HODIERNA m. RAYMOND of TRIPOLI YVETA

1131–1161 (Abbess)

Constance m. 1. Raymond of Poitiers Raymond III m. Eschiva

BALDWIN III ALMARIC m. 1 Agnes de Courtenay m. 2. Maria Commena

1141–1163

ISABEL I m. 1. Humphrey of Toron

1190–1205 m. 2. Conrad of Monferrat BALDWIN IV SYBILLA m. 1 William of Monferrat m. 2. Guy of Lusignan

1174–1185 1186–1190

BALDWIN V 2 daughters d. 1190 MARIA m. John of Brienne

1185–1186 1205–1212

ISABEL II m. FREDERICK II, Holy Roman Emperor 1225–1228

CONRAD of Sicily and Jerusalem

1243–1254

CONRADIN 1254–1268

ISABEL I. (continued)

m. 3. Henry, count of Champagne 1192–1197 _{m. 4 Amaury of Lusignan, king of Cyprus}

Alice m. 1. Hugh Lusignan of Cyprus Melisande m. Bohemond IV of Antioch

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The Poor Knights of Christ

1. TheBeginningoftheOrder 3

2. HughdePayns 11

3. BaldwinII,KingofJerusalem 17

4. Hugh,CountofChampagne 23

5. BernardofClairvaux 28

6. HughdePaynsTakestheTemplarsontheRoad 35

7. TheCouncilofTroyes 38

8. GoForthandMultiply 41

9. TheLifeofaTemplar,AccordingtotheRule 51

10. Melisande,QueenofJerusalem 56

11. FulkofAnjou,theQueen’sHusband 64

12. TheTempleinJerusalem 70

13. ThePopesGetInvolved(YouKnewTheyWould) 74

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x Contents

PA RT T WO

The Glory Years

15. GrandMasters1136–1191 95

16. BetweentheSecondandThirdCrusades(1150–1191) 114

17. WhoWeretheSaracens,Anyway? 122

18.Saladin 128

19. RichardtheLionheart 138

20. TheAssassins 148

21. TheHospitallers 156

22. GrandMasters1191–1292/93 164

23. TheTemplarsandtheSaint,LouisIXofFrance 180

24. TemplarsandMoney 189

25. TheTempleinParis 205

26. TheTempleinLondon 211

27. TheLastStands;TheFallofAcreandLossoftheHolyLand 217

PA RT T H R EE

The End of the Order

of the Poor Knights

28. JacquesdeMolay:TheLastGrandMaster1292–1313 227

29. PhiliptheFair 239

30. FridaytheThirteenth;theArrestandTrialsoftheTemplars 247

31. TheChargesAgainsttheTemplars 265

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xi

Contents

33. TheCouncilofVienneandtheEndoftheOrder 277

34. TimeLineoftheTrials 285

35. TheTrialsOutsideofFrance 289

36. TheSecretRiteofInitiation 304

37. MargueritePorete 313

38. WhoWeretheTemplars? 316

39. TheOtherGuys;RegionalMilitaryOrders 325

40. Baphomet 337

41. TheCathars 341

PA RT FOU R

The Beginning of the Legends

42. TemplarsinFiction 353

43. WhatHappenedtotheTemplars? 358

44. TheHolyGrail 365

45. TemplarsinDenmark:BornholmIsland 373

46. TheTemplarsandtheShroudofTurin 381

47. TemplarsinScotland:RosslynChapel 387

48. TheFreemasonsandtheTemplars 396

Epilogue 408

HowtoTellifYouAreReadingPseudohistory 411

TemplarTimeLine 415

RecommendedReading 421

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Introduction

L

astyearIwasinFrancetospeakaboutDanBrown’sbookTheDa

VinciCode,explainingtheplaceswheretheﬁctiondivergedfromhis

tory.AtonestopateenagedboyfromtheNetherlandsaskedme(in excellentEnglish)abouttheTemplars.Iwentintomystandardlec tureabouttheirliteraryconnectiontotheGrailandthemythssur roundingtheirdissolutionin1312.Helistenedpolitelyforawhileand theninterruptedtoask,“Yes,butwhatweretheTemplars?Didthey reallyexist?”

Icametoafullstop.Thatyoungmanhadacceptedthatthenovel wasﬁction.Therefore,hehadassumedthattheTemplarswerealso ﬁction.

WhenIstartedtothinkaboutit,itmadeperfectsense.WhenI readscienceﬁction,Ican’tjudgewhat’sbasedoncuttingedgescience andwhattheauthormadeup.WhyshouldIexpectreadersofhistori calﬁctiontoknowwhichcharactersinabookreallyexisted?

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xiv Introduction

reviled,adoredandloathed.Theywereconsideredbysometobethe closestthataﬁghtingmancouldcometosalvationandbyothers nothingmorethanmaterialisticmoneygrubbers.Theirmassarreston October13,1307,shockedtheWesternworld.Somedefendedthem; othersbelievedtheywereheretics.Manywhothoughttheywereprob ablyinnocentofthechargesstillfelttheTemplarshadgottenacome uppancethattheyrichlydeserved.

SincetheOrderoftheKnightsTemplarwasdissolved,thesto riesaboutthemhavegrownandmutateduntiltheyarehardlyrecog nizable.Forthreehundredyearsaftertheendoftheorder,the Templarswerelargelyforgotten.Ifanything,theywereseenasan anachronismthathadendedwellafterithadceasedtobeofanyuse. Theothermilitaryorderssurvivedbychangingandadaptingtothe newworld.

ThenthereweretwogreatspurtsofinterestintheTemplars. Theﬁrstwasattheendoftheeighteenthcenturywhentheywere rediscoveredbyProtestantEurope.Theybecameasymbolofresis tancetopapaltyrannyand,inFrance,thetyrannyofthemonarchy. CatholicsrespondedbyrememberingtheTemplarsasthelastde fenseagainsttheenemiesofChrist.

Attheendoftheeighteenthcentury,thecreationofTemplar mythstookahugeleap.ThenewsocietyknownastheFreemasons wasspreadingacrossEurope.Throughtheenthusiasticeﬀortsofa Germanbaron,KarlvonHund,whopublishedunderapenname,the storyoftheTemplarswasgraftedontoMasonicritualandlore.This openedthedoorforawealthofimaginativetheoriesregardingthe Templars,allofwhichhadmoretodowiththepoliticalsituationin EuropeatthattimethanthehistoryoftheTemplars.

ThesecondgreatdevelopmentintheTemplarmythcameinthe twentiethcentury.LateVictorianwriters,suchasJessieWeston,had woventheTemplarsintoEuropeanfolklore.Butitwasnotuntilthe latterpartofthecenturythatthegeneralpublicbecameintriguedby theorieslinkingtheTemplarstoeverythingfromtheHolyGrail,to CatharHeresy,tomodernsecretsocieties.Currently,thereareso

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Introduction xv

withthem.Theyseemtohavebeeninvolvedwitheverythingexcept theKennedyassassination,andthatmightbenext.

ThisbookisanattempttogivetheknownfactsabouttheKnights Templar,fromtheirbeginningsin1119or1120tothedissolutionin 1312andbeyond.Itismyhopethatthiswillmakeiteasierforpeople whoarereadingthelatestTemplarbook,eitherﬁctionorhistory,to separatefactfromﬁctionandgivethemabasefromwhichtoevaluate theideaspresented.Ihavearrangedthebookchronologically,with somechaptersbeinganoverviewofeventsandothersfocusingonin dividualpeopleorsubjects.Whentherearewordsinboldtype,that

meansthereisasectiondevotedtothatonetopic.Somesectionsover lapinsubjectmatter,givingadiﬀerentviewofpeopleandevents.

Ihaveoftenheardthatreadersareputoffbyfootnotes.Pleasedon’t be.Youdon’thavetoreadthem.Theyaretheretoletyouknowthat I’vedonemybesttofindthemostaccurateinformationavailable.They arealsotheresothatifyouwish,youcangotothesesourcesandcheck themforyourselves.ThenyoucandecideifI’mrightornot.Butif you’rewillingtotrustme,thenjustignorethem.I’llbeveryflattered. Studyinghistorymeansthatonehastobepartscientist,partdetective, andpartpsychologist.Theevidenceisnotalwayscompleteandthat’s why,whenhistorianscometoconclusions,theyalwaysletpeopleknow whatsourcesthoseconclusionsarebasedupon.

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PA R T ON E

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C H A P T E R O N E

TheBeginningoftheOrder

H

owdoesalegendbegin?

InthecaseoftheKnightsoftheTempleofSolomonat Jerusalem,itbeganinobscurity.Nocontemporarychroniclermen tionstheirexistence.Weonlyknowtheyexistedby1125becausethere isacharterfromthatyearwitnessedbyHughdePaynsinwhichheis

calledthe“MasteroftheTemple.”

LatergenerationswouldtellthestoryoftheﬁrstTemplars,each onealittlediﬀerently:

AtthebeginningofthereignofBaldwinII,aFrenchmancame fromRometoJerusalemtopray.Hehadmadeavownottore turntohisowncountry,buttobecomeamonkafterhelpingthe kinginthewarforthreeyears;heandthethirtyknightswhoac companiedhimwouldendtheirlivesinJerusalem.Whentheking andhisbaronssawthattheyhadachievedremarkablethingsinthe war...theyadvisedthemantoserveinthearmywithhisthirty knightsanddefendtheplaceagainstbrigandsratherthantobe comeamonkinthehopeofsavinghisownsoul.

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4 The Real History Behind the Templars

sametime,anEnglishman,WalterMap,gaveasomewhatdiﬀerent account:

AknightcalledPayns,fromadistrictofBurgundyofthesame name,cameasapilgrimtoJerusalem.Whenheheardthatthe Christianswhowateredtheirhorsesatacisternnotfaroutsidethe gatesofJerusalemwereconstantlyattackedbythepagans,and thatmanyofthebelieverswereslainintheseambuscades,hepit iedthem,and...hetriedtoprotectthemasfarashecould.He frequentlysprangtotheiraidfromwellchosenhidingplacesand slewmanyoftheenemy.

WalterviewsthefounderoftheorderasasortofLoneRanger whoeventuallyenlistedotherknightstojoinhiminhiswork.This wouldmakeagoodmovieplot,butitisunlikelythatamandoingthis wouldlivelongenoughtoestablishanorderofknights.

YetanotherstoryoftheﬁrstTemplarsisfromalaterwriter,Ber nard,amonkatCorbie.Hewrotein1232,overahundredyearsafter theorderbegan,buthewasdrawingonanowlostversionbyanoble mannamedErnoullivinginJerusalemaboutthesametimeasthe otherwriters.Bernardwrote:

WhentheChristianshadconqueredJerusalem,theyinstalled themselvesattheTempleoftheSepulcherandmanymorecame therefromeverywhere.Andtheyobeyedthepriorofthesepul cher.Thegoodknightstheretookcounselamongthemselvesand said,“Wehaveabandonedourlandsandourfriendsandhave comeheretoelevateandglorifytheruleofGod.Ifwestayhere, drinking,eatingandhangingaround,withoutdoingwork,then wecarryourweaponsfornothing.Thislandhasneedof them....Letusgettogetherandmakeoneofusthemasterofus all...toleadusinbattlewhenitoccurs.”

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5

The Beginning of the Order

ofapriest,anditwasonlythroughboredomthattheydecidedtoform aﬁghtingunit.

FinallywehavetheaccountofWilliam,ArchbishopofTyre.He istheonemostoftenquotedanditishisversionthathasmostoften beenaccepted.SincehewasborninJerusalemandeducatedinEu rope,hehadbothaccesstotherecordsandthepolishedstyleneces sarytopresentthehistory.

Inthatsameyear[1119]somenoblemenofknightlyrank,devoted toGod,piousandGodfearing,placedthemselvesinthehandsof thelordpatriarchfortheserviceofChrist,professingthewishto liveperpetuallyinthemannerofregularcanonsinchastity,and obedience,withoutpersonalbelongings.Theleadingandmost eminentofthesemenwerethevenerableHughofPaynsand GodfreyofSt.Omer.Astheyhadneitherchurchnorﬁxedabode, thekinggavethematemporaryhomeinhispalacewhichwason thesouthsideoftheTempleoftheLord,...Theirmainduty, imposedonthembythepatriarchandtheotherbishopsforthe remissionoftheirsins,wasthattheyshouldmaintainthesafetyof theroadsandthehighwaystothebestoftheirability,fortheben eﬁtofpilgrimsinparticular,againstattacksofbanditsandma rauders.

Theseexplanationshaveafewthingsincommon.Theyallimply thatHughdePaynswastheﬁrstoftheTemplarsandthatKing BaldwinIIofJerusalemwastheonetorecognizethem,eitheras

knightscommittedtotheprotectionofpilgrimsorasagroupofreli giousmenwhowishedtodevotetheirmilitaryskilltothedefenseof theChristiansettlements.TheyalsoagreethatatﬁrsttheTemplars livedatthesitethecrusadersbelievedtobethetempleoftheHoly Sepulcher,theplacewhereJesushadbeenburied.Itwasonlyafter theybecameamilitaryorderthatthemenmovedtotheking’spalace, inwhatwasbelievedtobetheTempleofSolomon.Theymayhave sharedquartersatthebeginningwiththeHospitallers,whohadbeen

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Thechroniclesareunclearonwhoseideaitwastohaveanorderof menwholivedlikemonksandfoughtlikesoldiers.Afterall,fighting monks?Thatdidn’tmakesense.Menwhofoughthadtoshedblood; sheddingbloodwasasin.Monksprayedforthesoulsofwarriorswhile deploringtheirviolence.Theideawasthatfightingmenwereaneces saryeviltoprotectsocietyfromthelawless.Someofthemwouldfind religion,giveuptheiraggressiveways,andjoinamonastery,butwho everheardofareligiousorderwhosemissionwastogointobattle?

Itwasanideabornofdesperation.Withthesuccessoftheﬁrst waveofcrusaders,JerusalemandthesitesoftheBiblewereonceagain opentoChristianpilgrims.Andthepilgrimscameindrovesfromall thecornersofChristendom.

But,whilethecitiesofJerusalem,Tripoli,Antioch,andAcrehad beentaken,theroadsthatconnectedthemwerestill,forthemost part,inthehandsoftheMoslems.Andtherewereanumberoftowns thathadnotbeenconquered.Thepilgrimswerefairgameforraiding parties.AtEasterin1119apartyofsomesevenhundredwasattacked whilegoingfromJerusalemtotheJordanRiver.Threehundredof themwerekilledandanothersixtycapturedandsoldintoslavery.

WalterMap’sstoryofHughdePaynssinglehandedlyguardinga wateringholemayhavecomenotfromtheTemplarsbutfromthe experiencesofaRussian,theabbotDaniel.Inabout1107,hetoldofa placebetweenJaﬀaandJerusalemwherethepilgrimscouldgetwater. Theywouldstaythereforthenight“ingreatfear”foritwasnearthe MoslemtownofAscalonfrom“whencetheSaracenswouldissueand massacrethepilgrims.”

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7

TheTemplarswereatﬁrstalocalgroupwithnoconnectiontothe papacy.TheyreceivedtheapprovalofthepatriarchofJerusalem,Gar mund,*andmayhavebeenpresentedatachurchcouncilheldatthe townofNablusonJanuary23,1120.

ThecouncilwasnotconvenedtoestablishtheKnightsofthe Templebuttodiscussproblemsthathaddevelopedinthetwenty yearssincethefoundingoftheLatinkingdoms.Themainworrywas thatgrasshoppershadbeendestroyingthecropsforthefouryears past.Thegeneralfeelingwasthatthiswasadivinepunishmentbe causemoralshadslackenedsincetheconquestofJerusalem.Somost ofthetwentyﬁvepronouncementsthatthecouncilpassedaddressed thesinsoftheﬂesh.

Itisinterestingthateventhoughthiswasareligiouscouncil, therewereasmanylaylordsasbishopsparticipating.Thisshowsthat theconcernswerewidespreadandneededtobesolvedbyallthosein power.

ThiscouncilinterestsmebecauseseveralhistoriansoftheTem plarsmentionitasifitwereimportanttotheformationoftheTem plars,but,whenIwenttotheoﬃcial records,nothingwassaid aboutthem.Instead,thecanons(laws)thatwereenactedatNablus dwellonwhichsinsthelordsandclericsofJerusalemthoughtwere theworst.Sevenofthemforbidadulteryorbigamyandfourcon cernsodomy.Fivemoredealwithsexualandotherrelationsbe tweenChristiansandSaracens,whichwerenotallowedunlessthe Saracenhadbeenbaptized.Thegeneralimplicationseemstohave beenthatifpeoplestoppeddoingthesethings,thenextharvest wouldbebetter.

Thereisnooﬃcialreportastowhetherthedecreesofthecouncil werefollowedorifthenextyear’scropswereunmolested.Fromother sources,itappearsthatsinsoftheﬂeshwerecommittedasusual.

TheonlycanonthatmightrelatetotheTemplars,agroupstillin itsinfancy,isnumbertwenty:“Ifaclerictakesuparmsinthecauseof

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defense, he is not held to be guilty.” It does not mention knights becomingmilitaryclerics.

Allthesame,thiswasaradicaldeparture.Despitetheloosening ofthecommandagainstgeneralwarfareinthecaseofthosewho foughtforGod,priestsandmonkshadalwaysbeenabsolutelyforbid dentoﬁght.

However,atAntioch,theyearbeforethecouncil,CountRoger andmostofhisarmyhadbeenkilledoutsidethewallsofthecityina battlestillknownasthe“FieldofBlood.”InordertosaveAntioch, theFrankishpatriarch,Bernard,issuedarmstoanyonewhocould carrythem,includingmonksandpriests.Luckily,theclericsdidn’t havetoﬁght,buttheprecedenthadbeenset.

ThiswastheatmosphereinwhichtheOrderoftheTemplewas formed.

OneofthemythsthattheTemplarstoldabouttheirownbeginning wasthatfortheﬁrstnineyearstherewereonlynineknights.Thisis ﬁrstmentionedinWilliamofTyrebutwasoftenrepeatedbylater chroniclerswholearneditfromtheTemplarsoftheirowntime.

Werethereonlyninemembers?Probablynot.WhiletheOrderof theTempledidn’tseemtohavegrownverymuchintheﬁrstfewyears, itwouldn’thavelastedatallwithsofewmen.Thenumberninemight havebeenchosenbecauseitwentwiththenineyearsfromthefound inguntiltheCouncilofTroyes,wheretheorderwasgivenformal

recognition.

SomescholarsthinktheTemplarsmayhavebeeninﬂuencedby medievalnumbersymbolism.Nineisa“circularnumber”:nomatter howmuchitismultiplied,thedigitsalwaysadduptonineoramul tipleofit,“andthereforecouldbeseenasincorruptible.”Manyyears afterthefounding,thepoetDantesurmisedthatthenumberninewas chosenbecause“nineistheholycipheroftheorderofangels,three timestheholycipherthreeoftheTrinity.”

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9

anditisinhischroniclethatweﬁrstﬁndthisidea.It’sverypossible thatthenumberwasWilliam’sinventionandthatitwastakenupby theTemplarsofhistimeandaddedtotheirownversionoftheirleg end.There’snowaytotell,butthenumberninedidbecomepartof TemplarloreandwasusedintheartworkinsomeTemplarchapels. Fromthereitcametobeconsideredafactsimplybecausethelegend hadbeenrepeatedsooften.

SoweknowverylittleabouttheﬁrstyearsoftheKnightsTemplar. ThereareafewchartersfromJerusalemandAntiochthatarewit nessedbytheearlymembers.ButthesearenotgiftstotheTemplars, merelyevidencethatthesemenexistedandwereintheHolyLand. Therearenosurvivingrecordsofdonationstotheorderbefore1124.

Itishumannaturetowanttoﬁllinthegaps,theblankspaceson themaps,thepartsofthestorythatdon’tseemenough.Thisiswhat happenedtothestoryoftheﬁrstTemplars.Atthetime,theyweren’t consideredimportantenoughforthechroniclerstomention.But sixtyoddyearslater,whentheywereanimportantpartofsociety, peoplewantedtoknowhowitallbegan.

Andsothelegendswerebornandstartedtogrow.Theyaregrow ingstill.

 ChartersoftheHolySepulcherno.105,inThierryLeroy,HugesdePayns(Troyes,2001) p.194.

 MichaeltheSyrian,inMalcomBarberandKeithBate,TheTemplars:SelectedSourcesTranslated andAnnotated(ManchesterUniversityPress,2002)p.27.TakenfromtheChroniquedeMichelle Syrien,PatriarcheJacobited’Antioch(1166–90),ed.andtr.J.B.Chabot(Paris:ErnestLerous,1905) p.201.

 WalterMap,Denugiscurialium/Courtiers’Triﬂes,tr.FrederickTupperandMarburyBladen Ogle(London,1924)p.33.

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 WilliamofTyreinBarberandBate,pp.25–26.TextinGuillaumedeTyr,Chronique,ed.R.B.C. Huygens,2vols.CorpusChristianorumContinuatioMediavales63and63A(Turnholt,1986) 12.7pp.553–54“Eodemannoquidamnobilesvirideequstriordine,deodevoteireligiosietti mentesdeum,inmonudominipatriarcheChristiserviciosemancipantes,morecanonicorum regulariumincastitateetobedientiaetsinepropriovellepertpetuovivereprofessisunt.Inter quosprimietprecipuifuerenutvirivernerabilesHugodePagainisetGaufridusdeSanctoAl demaro.Quibusquoniamnequeecclesiaeratnequecertumhabebantdomiciliumrexinpalatio suo,quodsecusTemplumDominiasaustralemhabetpartem,eisadtempusconcessit habitaculum,...Primaautemeorumprofessio,quodqueeisadominopatriarchaetreliquis episcopisinremissionempeccatoruminiunctumest,utviasetitineramaximeadsalutemper egrinorumcontralatronumetincursantiuminsidiasproviribusconservarent.”

MalcolmBarber,TheNewKnighthood(CambridgeUniversityPress,1994)p.9.

 QuotedinEdwardBurman,TheTemplars,KnightsofGod(Rochester,VT:DestinyBooks,1986) p.16.

 CharlesJosephHefeleandH.Leclerq,HistoiresdeConcilesd’apreslesdocumentsOriginaux, t.Va(Paris:LetouzeyetAné,1912)p.592.

 BenjaminZ.Kader,“OntheOriginsoftheEarliestLawsofFrankishJerusalem:TheCanons

oftheCopuncilofNablus,1120,”SpeculumApril1999(LatinCanonsreproducedfromBibi lotecaApostolicaVaticana,MSVat.Lat.1345Fols.1r–3r)pp.331–34.

 Ibid.p.334.“Siclericuscausadefenssionis[sic]armadetulerit,culpanonteneantur.”(mytrans lation)

 Ibid.p.332andinarticle.SeealsoStevenRunciman,AHistoryoftheCrusadesVol.II(Cam bridgeUniversityPress,1952)pp.150–52.

 WilliamofTyre,p.554.“Cumqueiamannisnovenineofuissentproposito,nonnisinovem

errant.”

 BarberandBate,p.3.

 QuotedinMarieLuiseBuistThiele,“TheInﬂuenceofSt.BernardofClairvauxontheForma

tionoftheOrderoftheKnightsTemplar,”ed.MichaelGerversTheSecondCrusadeandthe Cistercians(NewYork:St.Martin’sPress,1992)p.58.

Ibid.

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C H A P T E R T W O

HughdePayns

A

midallthediﬀerenttheoriesaboutthebeginningoftheTem

plarsthereisoneconstant.Thefounderoftheorderwasacer tainHughdePayns,knight.

Somesayheandafewcomradesﬁrstapproachedthepatriarchof Jerusalem,askingtoliveamonasticlifeinthecity.Othersreportthe menwenttoBaldwinII,kingofJerusalem.Stillotherssuggestthatit

wasBaldwinwhoaskedHughandhisfriendstoactasprotectorsto themanypilgrimscomingfromtheWesttoJerusalem.

Inallofthese,themainconstantisHugh.

ButwhowasHugh?WhereisPayns?Whatwashisbackground andwhowerehisfamily?Whatcouldhaveledhimtodevotehislife toﬁghtingforGod?

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Hugh de Payns and Godfrey of St. Omer before King Baldwin II. ( Bibliotheque Nationale)

doesnotseemtohavebeenanysensethathewasinlineforsaint hood.

Sohowdowefindoutmoreaboutthismanwhostarteditall? ThefirstcluewehaveisfromthechroniclerWilliamofTyre.He says that Hugh came from the town of Payns, near Troyes in the countyofChampagne.WilliamalsomentionsHugh’scompanion, GodfreyofSt.Omer,inPicardy,nowFlanders.Thesetwomenseem, inWilliam’seyes,tobecofoundersoftheTemplars,butitwasHugh whobecamethefirstGrandMaster.Thismayhavebeenthrough naturalleadership,butitalsomayhavebeenbecauseHughhadthe rightconnections.

PaynsisasmalltowninFrance,nearTroyes,theseatofthe counts of Champagne. It is situated in a fertile farmland that even thenhadareputationforitswine.It’snotknownwhenHughwas born,orwhohisparentswere.Theﬁrstmentionofhimintherecords isfromabout1085–1090,whena“HugodePedano,Montiniacidomi nus,”orHughofPayns,lordofMontigny,witnessedacharterin

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13

Hugh de Payns

Molesme.Inordertobeawitness,ourHughhadtohavebeenatleast sixteen.Sohewasprobablybornaround1070.

Overthenextfewyears,fourmorechartersofthecountarewit nessedbya“HugodePeanz”or“HugodePedans.”Actually,theplace nameisspelledslightlydiﬀerently each time it appears. It is also spelled“Hughes.”Spellingwasmuchmoreofacreativeartbackthen. However,it’sfairlycertainthattheseareallthesameman.These showthatHughwaspartofthecourtofthecountofChampagne, perhapsevenrelatedtohim.

ThelastofthesechartersinChampagneisfrom1113.Thenext timeweﬁndthenameHughdePayns,itisin1120inJerusalem.This ishighlysuggestive,asHughiswitnesstoacharterconﬁrmingthe propertyoftheOrderofSt.John(theHospitallers).Sonowwehave

conﬁrmationofthestorythatHughwasinJerusalemin1119–1120to foundtheTemplarsoutsideoflaterhistories.However,itisnotuntil ﬁveyearslaterthatHughwitnessesacharterinwhichhelistshimself as“MasteroftheKnightsTemplar.”Inbetween,heiswitnesstoa donationmadein1123byGaramond,patriarchofJerusalem,tothe abbeyofSantaMariadeJosaphat.HereHughislistedonlybythe name“HugonisdePeans.”ThereisnomentionoftheTemplarsand Hughisneartheendofthelistofwitnesses,showingthathewasnot oneofthemostimportantpeoplepresent.

HowdidHughgettoJerusalem?Whathappenedinthoseﬁve yearsbetweenwitnessingacharterasalaymanandbecomingMaster oftheTemplars?Wecanguess,butunlessmoreinformationappears, wecan’tknowforcertain.

ThemostlikelyreasonforHughtohavegonetotheHolyLand wasinthecompanyofCountHugh.Thecountmadeapilgrimageto Jerusalem,hissecond,in1114.Thereisnolistofhiscompanions,but itwouldﬁtthatHughdePaynswouldhavebeeninhiscompany. Hughwasalreadyamongthoseatcourtoftenenoughtobeawitness tothecount’sdonationsandthereforeoneofhisliegemen.Buthe musthavebeenreleasedfromhisobligationtohislordfor,when CountHughreturnedhome,HughdePaynsremainedinJerusalem.

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Again,Hughhasn’tleftanythingtotellus.Wasitaspenancefor hissins?Mostpilgrimageswereintendedasaquestfordivineforgive ness.ManypeoplehaveinsistedthatknightsonlywenttotheHoly Landforwealth,eitherinlandorgoodslootedfromthosetheycon quered.ButinHugh’scase,oncehedecidedtoremaininJerusalemhe resolvedtolivethelifeofamonk,owningnothing.

ItisevenmoresurprisingbecauseHughapparentlyleftawife andatleastoneyoungchildbehind.HiswifewasnamedElizabeth. ShewasprobablyfromthefamilyofthelordsofChappes,landquite closetoPayns.Theirson,Thibaud,becameabbotofthemonastery ofLaColombe.Hughmayhavehadtwootherchildren,Guibuin andIsabelle,butIdon’tﬁndtheevidenceforthemcompletelycon vincing.

Inprinciple,anymarriedpersonwishingtojoinareligiousorder hadtohavethepermissionofhisorherspouseandthatspousewas alsotojoinaconventormonastery.Inpractice,however,thisdidn’t happenthatoften,especiallyamongthenobility.WhenSybillaof Anjou,countessofFlanders,remainedinJerusalemtojointhenunsat theconventofBethanyin1151,herhusband,Thierry,returnedto Flandersandcontinuedhislife.Sometimes,thespouseremarried.It isnotknownwhathappenedtoElizabeth.Perhapsshediedbefore HughleftChampagne.

Hughdidnotabandontheplaceofhisbirth.Whenhereturned toEuropetodrumupsupportfortheKnightsoftheTemple,here ceivedhisgreatestsupportinChampagne.ItwasattheCouncilof Troyes,onlyafewmilessouthofPayns,thattheorderreceivedoﬃ cialpapalapproval.

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15

Hugh de Payns

onCrusadeandsotheTemplarsgavehimfortylivreswiththepromise oftwentymorewhen(orif)Odoreturned.

However,afterfoundingthecommandery,itappearsthatHugh donatednothingmoretoit.HereturnedtoJerusalem,probablyaround 1130,anddiedin1136.May24isthetraditionaldate.

Therecordswehavefromtheearlytwelfthcenturygivenomore informationonHughdePayns.Ofcourse,muchhasbeenlostoverthe years.SomeoftheTemplarrecordsinEuropeweredestroyedafterthe dissolutionoftheorderattheCouncilofVienne.Thisdoesn’tseemto havebeenbecausetheinformationwassecretorheretical,simplythatit wasnolongerneededandtheparchmentcouldbescrapedandreused.

ThemainTemplararchives,whichmighthavehadmoreinforma tiononHugh,werenotinEurope,however,butinJerusalem.They weremovedtoAcreandthenCyprus,wheretheywerein1312.War andconquestensuredthatanythingleftwasscatteredordestroyed.

PerhapstherewasonceabiographyofsortsofHughdePayns.It seemstomethatsomeonewouldhavewantedtotelltheworldmore abouthim.Whatwecandeducefromhisactionsisthathemusthave beenastrongwilledman,verydevoutandwiththeabilitytoconvince otherstoseeandfollowhisvision.Hedoesnotseemtohavebeen particularlywelleducated.Nothinginhislifeorbackgroundwould indicatethathewasinvolvedinanythingofamysticalnature,nor thathefoundedtheTemplarstoprotectsomenewlydiscoveredtrea sureorsecret,asmodernmythsstate.

HughdePaynswasmostlikelyadeeplydevoutlaymanwho wantedtoserveGodbyprotectingHispilgrimsandHisland.Hugh usedhiswealth,suchasitwas,andhisfamilyandsocialconnections tomakethispossible.Nothingmore.

 WilliamofTyre,ed.R.B.V.Huygens,CCCM6312.7.6(Brepols,Turnholt1986)“Interquos

primusetprecipuifueruntvirivenerabilesHugodePaganisetGaufridusdeSanctoAldemaro.”

 ThierryLeroy,HughesdePayns,ChevalierChampenois,FondateurdeL’OrdredesTempliers

(Troyes:LaMaisonduBoulanger,2001)p.194.CartulairedeMolesme,n.230p.214.

 Leroy,p.194.CharterslistedareforabbeysallintheareaofTroyes.

 HenriFrançoisDelaborde,ChartresdeTerreSainteProvenantdel’AbbayedeN.D.deJosaphat.

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 Leroy,p.194.CartulairedeSaintSépulcreno.105,“magistermilitiumTempli.”

 ChartresdeTerreSainteProvenantdel’AbbayedeN.D.deJosaphat,ed.HFrancoisDelaborde, (Paris,1880)p.38.Charterno.12.

MichaelBur,LaformationducomtédeChampagne(UniversitédeLilleIII,1977)p.275.

 Leroy,p.98.Despiteseveralpopularmodernbooksofﬁctionandsomethatsaytheyarenon

ﬁction,thereisnotruthtothetalethatHugh’swifewasnamedCatherineSt.Clair.

 Thibaudwaselectedabbotin1139.“ThibauddePahens,ﬁliusHugonisprimimagistritemple

Jerosolymitani.”QuotedinLeroy,p.95.

 Leroy,pp.95–114.NeitherofthechildrenislistedassonordaughterofHugh.Theymightbe

fromanotherbranchofthefamilywhotookoverPaynsafterThibaudenteredthemonastery.

 KarenNicholas,“CountessesasRulersinFlanders,”inAristocraticWomeninMedievalFrance, ed.TheodoreEvergates(Philadelphia:UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1999)p.123.

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C H A P T E R T H R E E

BaldwinII,

KingofJerusalem

B

aldwinofLeBourqaccomplishedthedreamofmanyofthe

knightsoftheFirstCrusade.Hewentfrombeingashirttailrela tiveofGodfreyofBouillonandhisbrother,BaldwinI,theheroesof thecrusade,tobecomingkinginhisownright,marryingaprincess andrulingarealmthathadbeenconqueredforthegloryofGod.

HealsowasthemanwhoﬁrstgavetheTempleofSolomonto

HughdePaynsandhisknights,thusstartingboththerealityandthe

legendoftheTemplars.

BaldwinwasthesonofHugh,countofRethel,andacousinof theLotharingianbrothersEustace,Godfrey,andBaldwin.Hewent withthemontheFirstCrusadeandremained.WhenEustacere turnedhometobecomecountofBoulogne,Godfrey,“theProtectorof theHolySepulcher,”diedandBaldwinbecametheﬁrstkingofJeru salem;theircousinwasgiventhecountyofEdessatorule.

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toberuledbytheWesterncrusadersaslongastheycouldpractice theirformofChristianity.

Unlikemanyoftheearlysettlers,Baldwinseemstohaveadapted tothecustomsofhisnewland.HeacceptedtheArmenianpatriarch with“allthehonorsduetohishighecclesiasticaldignity,gavehimvil lages,loadedhimdownwithgiftsandshowedhimgreatfriendship.” ThediﬀerentChristiansectsofthecountywereallowedtocontinue theirformsofworship,notforcedtoconformtotheRomanrites.

Inhisdesiretoassimilatewithhisnewsubjects,Baldwinalso tookanArmenianbride.HernamewasMorfiaandshewasthe daughterofKhoril,princeofMelitene.Althoughitwasapolitically soundmoveandshecamewithanexcellentdowry,therealsoseemsto havebeengenuineaffectionbetweenBaldwinandMorfia.Therestof themarriagesamongthenoblefamiliesoftheLatinkingdomsmake thesteamiestsoapoperaslooktame,butintheiryearstogetherBald winandMorfiaprovokednoscandalandnotalkofdivorce.When onlydaughterswereborntothem,Baldwinsawnoreasonwhythe eldestoneshouldn’tinheritEdessa.

Whenin1118,BaldwinI,kingofJerusalem,diedwithoutanheir, heleftnoprovisionforthesuccessiontothethrone.Thepatriarchof Jerusalem,Arnulf,calledthelordstogethertodecidewhattodo. Somefeltthattheking’slastremainingbrother,Eustace,shouldbe summonedfromBoulognetotakeupthekingship.Othersfeltthatit wasunsafetowaitforEustace.Thetimeitwouldtaketosendames sengertoEuropeandbackwouldleavethekingdomopentoanarchy andattack.

JocelynofCourtenay,anotherearlycrusader,putinavotefor BaldwinofLeBourq.Baldwinwasofthesamefamilyasthelate king,hehaddoneagoodjobrulingEdessa,and,evenifhischildren wereallgirls,hehadprovedhecouldproducechildren.Therewasstill hopeforaboy.

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19

Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem

ItturnedoutthatEustacewasn’tthrilledwiththeideaoftaking overthegovernanceofJerusalem.HehadstartedoutfortheHoly Landwhenheheardofhisbrother’sdeath,buthadonlyreachedItaly whenhelearnedofBaldwin’scoronation.Hewasapparentlyquite contenttogobacktohishomeinBoulogne.

EustacemayhaverealizedthattheKingdomofJerusalemwasa prizethatwouldneedconstantdefending.Orhemayhaveremem beredwhatthesummersunintheNearEastdoestofairnorthern skin.SoBaldwinbecamethesecondkingofJerusalemwithoutaseri ousstruggle.HegaveEdessatohissupporterJocelynofCourtenay.

Thenewkingfacedamountainofproblems,bothmilitaryand economic.ThecapitalcityofJerusalemhadbeenclearedofallnon Christiansbytheﬁrstcrusadersandtherehadn’tbeenmuchinterest amongtheFrankstorepopulateit.Thecitywasaplaceforpilgrimsto visit,seethesights,buysomesouvenirs,andgohome.Baldwingave concessionstoanyone“Latin”whowouldsetupshopsandhomes.He alsogaveSyrians,Greeks,andArmenians—everyoneexceptSara censandJews—therightoffreetrade,especiallyinfoodstuﬀs.It workedtosomeextent,butJerusalemwasimportantmoreforitshis toricalandreligiousconnectionsratherthanasamajorcenteroftrade. Itwastheportcitiesthatmaintainedthecrusaders’holdontheland andmostoftheWesternerslivedalongthecoast.

Outsideofthecities,therewaslittlecontroloverthearea.The pilgrims,whobroughtcashin,werebeingwaylaidontheroadbyrob bers.ItwasimpossibletopatrolthewholeareabetweenJerusalemand theportcities.Also,manyofthepilgrimscouldn’tseemtounder standthattheycouldn’tjusttrotoﬀtospendadayinBethlehemorgo foradipintheJordanwithoutguards.Baldwinhadneitherthemen northeresourcestoprotectthem.Andyet,withoutthepilgrims,Je rusalemcouldnotsurvive.

It’snotcertainwhetheritwasBaldwinorHughdePaynswho

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beenestablishedwithinJerusalemtoprovideshelterandcaretothe pilgrims,manyofwhomcamewiththeintentionofdyingintheHoly Land.Butin1119,whentheTemplarswerefounded,thehospitalhad nomilitaryduties.Sotherewasadeﬁnitenichefortheknightsto ﬁll.

KingBaldwingavethemtheuseofasectionoftheroyalpalace, thoughttobeonthesiteoftheTempleofSolomon,andleftthemto

settleinasbesttheycould.

ThenextfewyearsforBaldwinwerespentoutsideofJerusalem. HehadtomopupafterRogerofAntiochdecidedtorideoutandﬁght theOrtoqidTurkIlghaziwithoutwaitingforreinforcements.The placewhereRogerrealizedthathe’dmadehislastmistakewasever afterknownasthe“FieldofBlood.”

BaldwintookoverthegovernanceofAntiochuntilRoger’sheir, Bohemond,couldreachadulthoodandarrivefromhishomeinApu lia.HealsokeptaneyeonEdessaandwhen,in1123,CountJocelyn wascapturedbyIlghazi’snephewBalak,Baldwinrushednorthto maintainorderinthecity.Unfortunately,Baldwinfellintothesame trapasJocelynhadandbecameBalak’sprisonerinApril1123.

ThebaronsofJerusalemchosearegent,EustacedeGarnier,lord ofSidonandCaesarea.HeheldthingstogetherquitewelluntilBald winwasreleasedin1124,afterpayingaheavyransomandgiving Balakhisﬁveyearolddaughter,Yveta,asahostage.

DuringhiscaptivitythecityofTyrewascapturedfromtheTurks bytheFranksandtheVenetians.TheunimportanceoftheTemplars atthistimeisclearfromthefactthatthetreatywassignedbythe patriarchofJerusalem,thearchbishopofCaesarea,threeotherbish ops,theabbotofSantaMariaofJosaphat,andthepriorsoftheHoly Sepulcher,theTempleoftheLord,andMoutSion.Themasterofthe Templeisn’tevenamongthewitnesses.

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21

Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem

Inbetweenbattles,Baldwinwasbusymarryingoﬀhisdaughter, Alice,tothecountofAntioch,BohemondII,nowoldenoughtotake charge.Histhirddaughter,Hodierna,wasthenmarriedtothecount ofTripoli.Forhiseldestdaughter,Melisande,Baldwinsentadelega

tionbacktoEuropetoaskforthehandofthewidowedcountofAn

jou,Fulk.Althoughthereisn’tmuchmentionoftheTemplarsin

Jerusalemuptothispoint,HughdePaynsandGodfreyofSt.Omer, thetwoﬁrstknightsoftheorder,wereintheparty.

ThismissionbacktoEuropewastheturningpointfortheTem plars.HughandGodfreyreturnedwithmen,money,andpapalap proval.Thislastallowedthemtocollectdonationsandsetupbranch housestomanageproperty.Thehouses,calledpreceptoriesorcom manderies,providedhorses,fodderandfoodaswellascashforthe constantneedsofthefrontlineTemplarknights.

ThetripwasalsogoodpublicrelationsforBaldwinandtheKing domofJerusalem.HughandGodfreyremindedpeopleofthepurpose ofthecrusades.TheTemplarknightswerenotlookingforindividual wealthorlandorpoliticalpower.Theorderitselfwounduphavingall threebutnoonecouldhaveforeseenthatin1125,whenthemenset out.WhatpeopleinEuropesawweremenofgoodbirthwhohad abandonedtheirlandsandfamiliesinordertodefendtheplaceswhere Christhadlivedanddiedforallpeople.TheexampleoftheTemplars wasashamingremindertothosewhohadstayedbehind.

WhenBaldwinIIdiedinAugust1131,theKingdomofJerusalem wasﬁrmlyestablished.Hisdaughterandsoninlawhadgivenhima grandson,thefutureBaldwinIII,whowouldcarryonhisline.Con structiononthenewChurchoftheHolySepulcherhadbegun.He musthavefeltthathehadgivenhispeopleagoodbasetocontinue expandingtheterritory.

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 RenéGrousset,HistoiredesCroisadesetduRoyanmeFrancdeJérusalem(Paris,1934)p.388.

 Monophysites:ThisisaChristiansectthatstressesthedivinenatureofJesusoverthehuman

one.TheArmenianMonophysitesbeganintheﬁfthcenturyandstillexist.

 HansEberhardMayer,TheCrusades(OxfordUniversityPress,1988)p.49.

 Grousset,p.259(quotingMatthewofEdessa).

 Hehadbeenmarriedtwice,oncetoanArmenianprincesswhomhehadrefusedtoacceptbe

causeshehadbeencapturedforashorttimebyMoslemsandhesaidshehadbeenrapedby them.ThesecondtimewastoAdelaideofSicily,whomherepudiated.Mayersaysthat“toall appearances,thekingwashomosexual”(p.71)buthedoesn’tsaywhatthoseappearanceswere. Baldwinwasburiednexttohisbrother,Godfrey.

 WilliamofTyre,Chroniqueed.R.B.C.Huygens,CCCM63(Turnholt,1986)12,3p.549.

 Ibid.,p.549(Iaddedthepartabouthisdaughters).Williamlistedtheotherreasons.  Ibid.,p.550.

 Grousset,p.537.

 WilliamofTyre,p.565.“DeditetiamSurianis,Grecis,Armenisetharumcuiuslibetnationum

hominibus,Sarracenisetiamnichilominus,liberampotestaemsineexactionealiquainferendi insanctamcivitatemtriticum,ordeumetquodlibetgenusqequminus.”

 Pleaseseechapter1,TheBeginningoftheOrder.

 Mayer,p.73.

 WilliamofTyre,12,28,p.581.  Mayer,pp.79–80.

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C H A P T E R F O U R

Hugh,

CountofChampagne

O

neoftheearliestmembersoftheTemplarswasalsooneofthe

fewmembersofthehighnobilitytojoin.HughofChampagne remainsoneofthemoremysteriousoftheﬁrstTemplars.

Aswithsomuchofthepoliticsintheeleventhandtwelfthcentu ries,thestoryofHugh,ﬁrstcountofChampagne,isthatoffamily. Whenhewasborn,thecountyofChampagnedidn’texist.Formost ofhislifehecalledhimselfthecountofTroyes,whichwasthemain holdingofhisancestors.

HughwastheyoungestsonofThibaudI,whowascountofBlois, Meaux,andTroyes,andofAdeleofBarsurAube.Thibaudhadgained someofhispropertybytakingoverlandsbelongingtoanephew. Therefore,hehadsomethingtogivetoHugh,hislastbornson.Hugh’s olderbrother,StephenHenry,gotthebestproperty,thatofBloisand Meaux.HughinheritedTroyesandotherbitsfromhismotherandthe propertyofhismiddlebrother,Odo,whodiedyoung.

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HughdePayns,becameoneofHugh’ssupportersandamemberof hiscourt.

Hughscoredacoupin1094byhismarriagetoConstance,daugh terofPhilipI,kingofFrance.ShebroughtwithherthedowryofAt tigny,justnorthofHugh’slands.

Asthetwelfthcenturydawned,Hughseemedtobeanupand comingyoungnobleman,withanexpandingamountoflandandroyal connections.

In1102,StephenHenrydiedinbattleinPalestine.Heleftseveral youngsonsandaformidablewife,Adele,thedaughterofKingHenry IofEngland.ThiswasStephen’ssecondtriptotheHolyLand.Itwas saidthatAdelewasn’tpleasedwithherhusband’smilitaryexploitson thefirsttrip.HehaddesertedthecrusaderarmybeforereachingAn tioch.Adeleinsistedhereturnandfightmorebravelybeforeshowing hisfaceathomeagain.StephenHenry’sdeathinbattleapparently satisfiedher.

Ataboutthesametime,1103,Hughhadaverystrangeencounter. OnedaywhilehewastravelinginthevalleyofSuippe,amannamed Alexander,apilgrimfromtheHolyLand,cametoseehim.Acharter fromtheconventofAvenaytellswhathappenednext.“Hugh...used toransomcaptivesandaidthedestitute.Amongthesewasacertain Alexander,animpoverishedmanfromoverseaswhomthecounttook intohisownhousehold.Themostnoblecountandhisfamilytreated thismansowellthatheevenateandoftensleptinthecount’sper sonalquarters.”

Hugh’sconﬁdenceinAlexanderwasmisplacedfor,onenight, “judgingthetimeandplaceappropriate,[he]triedtoslitthethroatof thesleepingcount.”

Therecordsdon’tgiveareasonfortheattack,nordotheysayany thingmoreaboutthepilgrim.Thisisoneofthefrustrationsofhis toricalrecords.

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25

Hugh, Count of Champagne

Itmayhavebeenthecombinationofhisbrother’sdeathandhis ownnearmissthatconvincedHughtomakeapilgrimagetotheHoly Land.Heleftin1104andreturnedaround1107.It’snotclearwhether heandhisretinueaidedintheongoingﬁghttokeepthelandwonby theﬁrstcrusadersorsimplyvisitedthepilgrimsites.

WhileHughwasoﬀonhisjourneyhiswife,Constance,decided she’dhadenough.SheandHughhadbeenmarriedelevenyearsand hadnochildren.Fortunately,mostofthenobilityofFrancewerere latedinonewayoranotherandsoshewasabletohavethemarriage dissolvedonthegroundsthattheywerecousins.Thiswasthemedi evalwayaroundtheprohibitionofdivorceanditwasusedallthe time.ConstancelatermarriedBohemondI,rulerofAntioch,and endedherdaysthere.Herdescendants,especiallythewomen,played importantrolesinthehistoryoftheLatinkingdoms.

SouponhisreturntoChampagnein1107,Hughfoundhimself single.Hesoonmarriedagain,thistimetoElizabethofVarais, daughterofStephentheHardyofBurgundy.Elizabethwasrelatedto anumberofstrong,powerfulwomenofthetime.Shewasthenieceof Clemence,countessofFlanders,andalsoMatilda,duchessofBur gundy.HerﬁrstcousinwasAdelaide,thewifeofLouisVI,kingof France.

InOctober1115,CountHughwasattendingPopeCalixtusIIat theCouncilofReims,whereheandhismenprovidedanescorttothe bishopofMainz.Thepopewas,bytheway,Elizabeth’suncle.Life wasgoingwellagainforthecountofChampagne.

Therefore,itwasstrangethatwhenElizabethpresentedHugh withason,herefusedtobelieveitwashisandsaidsopublicly.Thedat ingoftheblessedeventisuncertain,around1117.Hughhadgoneon hissecondpilgrimagetoJerusalemin1116anditcouldhavebeenthat hiswifetriedtoconvincehimthatshehadhadafourteenmonthpreg nancy.ButthereasonHughgavewasthathisdoctorshadalltoldhim thathewassterile,sohemayhavethoughtthatitwaschronologically possibleforhimtobethefather.Inanyevent,thechild,Eudes,and hismotherwererepudiated.

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astothelegitimacyofthebabythatnogreatstormofprotesthit Hugh.WhileEudeshadfriendswhotookhissideovertheyears,he wasneverabletoattractenoughsupporttobeathreattothenext countofChampagne,Hugh’snephew,Thibaud.Eudeswasgivena smallﬁefandallowedtoliveouthislifeinpeace.

Hughdidnottryanothermarriage.In1125heabdicatedascount andreturnedtoJerusalem,wherehejoinedthenewlyformedTem plars.Hediedtheresometimeafter1130.

ThestoryofHugh,countofTroyesandChampagne,isoneofthe realmysteriesoftheTemplarsaga.Accordingtolegend,theorderwas formedin1119,afterHughdePaynsdecidedtoremaininJerusalem whileCountHughreturnedtoTroyes.Didthecounthaveanyinﬂu enceonthedecisionofthefuturefounderoftheordertostaybehind? AsHugh’soverlord,CountHughwouldhavehadtogivehispermis sionforHughtoleavehisservice.Wasthecountpartofthisinitial decisiontoformamonasticmilitaryorder?

Wedon’tknow.Noneofthechroniclersmentionhim,exceptto notethatheendedhislifeasaTemplar.Isitbecausetheywereembar rassedtosaythatthecountofChampagnechosetobecomesubservi enttoamanwhohadoncebeenoneofhisvassals?CountHugh seemstohavebeenaconsummatewarrior.Hespentmostofhislife ﬁghtingoronpilgrimage.Heseemsamuchmorelikelycandidatefor beingthefounderoftheTemplarsthanHughdePayns.

Buthewasn’t.Hediedasamemberoftheorder,nothingmore. ChampagnewenttoThibaud,thegreatgrandsonofWilliamthe ConquerorandthesonofCountStephenHenry,whohaddiedasa soldierofGod.AndHughfadedintoafootnotetoTemplarhistory.

MichelBur,LaformationducomtédeChampagne(UniversitedeLilleIII,1977)p.259.

 Bur,p.267.

 ThierryLeroy,HughesdePayns,ChevalierChampenois,Fondateurdel’OrdredesTempliers(Troyes:

LaMaisonduBoulanger,2001).

 Bur,473–74,quotingtheanonymoushistorianoftheFirstCrusade.

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27

Hugh, Count of Champagne

Ibid.  Bur,p.274.

 Ibid.Constance’slifestoryisreallymuchmoreinterestingthanHugh’sinmyopinion. OdericVitalis,TheEcclesiasticalHistoryofOrdericVitalisVol.VI,p.252.

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C H A P T E R F I V E

BernardofClairvaux

H

ecalledhimselfthechimeraofhisage.Hewasamassofcon

tradictions.Bernard,abbotofClairvaux,wasamonkwho spentmostofhistimeoutofthecloister,aspiritualmanwhoseemed alwaysembroiledinpoliticsandamanofpeacewhoconvincedthou sandstoﬁghtanddiefortheirfaith.Therearemanywhobelievethat itwashischampionshipoftheTemplarsthatmadetheirsurvivalpos sible.

Bernardentershistoryin1113whenheappearsatthegatesofthe monasteryofCiteauxdemandingtobecomeamonk.Thisisacom monthemeinstoriesofmedievalsaints.ButBernard’sstoryisslightly diﬀerent.Insteadofﬂeeingtheworld,heseemstohavebroughtit along.Bernardhadconvincedthirtyofhisfriendsandrelativesto enterthemonasterywithhim.

Bernardwasbornin1090,thethirdsonofTecelindeTroisFon tainesandhiswife,AlethdeMontbard.Theywereofthelowernobil ityoftheareaaroundDijon.Bernard’sbrotherswerealltrained warriorswhofoughtfortheirlords,usuallythedukeofBurgundy. Hischildhoodseemstohavebeenhappy.Hewasdevotedtoboth parents,particularlyhismother,whodiedwhenhewasinhisteens.

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29

Bernard of Clairvaux

Bartholomew,Andrew,andNivardandhisuncleGaudryalsobecame monks.GuywasalreadymarriedandhadsmalldaughtersandyetBer nardhadconvincedhimtoleavehisfamilyandjoinhim.Notonly that,healsoconvincedGuy’swifetoagreetothisandenteracon vent.

Suchenthusiasmcouldn’tbecontainedinoneplace.Withinthree years,BernardhadleftCiteauxtofoundaCistercianabbeyofhisown atClairvaux,justnorthofDijon.

It’sclearthatfromanearlyage,Bernardhadincrediblepowersof persuasion.

ButhowdidthisdevoutmonkbecomeinvolvedwiththeTem plars?Atﬁrstglance,itseemsanunlikelypairing.

However,whenwelookabitcloser,thedistancebetweenBernard ofClairvauxandtheKnightsoftheTempleisn’tsofar.Thefounderof

theTemplars,HughdePayns,camefromanareanearthatofBer

nard’sfamily.TheymayevenhaveknowneachotherbeforeBernard leftforCiteaux.BernardcertainlyknewCountHughofChampagne,

whohadabandonedhislordshiptojointheTemplarsinJerusalem.In alettertoHugh,writtenabout1125,Bernardlamentsthatthecount hasdecidedtotravelsofarawaytodevotehimselftoGod,and,even thoughheiscertainthatitisthewilloftheMostHigh,hestillwill missthecount,whohasbeensogeneroustotheCistercianorder.

ThestrongestconnectionisthattheﬁrstTemplarscamefrom thesameworldthatBernardwasborninto.Theyweregenerallyfrom thelowernobility,mentrainedforwarintheserviceofgreaterlords. Theywerenotwelleducated,perhapslearningtoreadFrenchbutnot Latin.Yetmanyofthemfeltuneasyabouttheroletheywereaskedto playinsociety.TheyreceivedmixedsignalsfromtheChurch,which forbadethekillingofotherChristians,buthonoredknightsasprotec torsoftheweakandtheliteratureofthetime,whichpraisedvaliant andsuccessfulwarriors.Theknightsknewthatsuccessinbattlewas thekeytoadvancingtheirposition.

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knightswhofoughtforChristwasthenextbestthing.Perhapsitwas CountHughwhosuggestedtoBaldwinII,kingofJerusalem,that

theTemplarsaskBernardtousehisinﬂuencetoconvincethepope, InnocentII,andthegreatlordsofEurope,tosupporttheneworder.

Asonemightguess,Bernardneverdidanythinghalfway.Hewas presentattheCouncilofTroyesin1129toseetheoﬃcialrecognition oftheTemplars.Evenbeforethat,hemayhavewrittenhispassionate defenseoftheorder,OntheNewKnighthood.

OntheNewKnighthoodwaswrittenintheformofalettertoHugh

dePayns,inresponsetohisrequestfora“sermonofexhortation”to thebrothersoftheTemple.Scholarshavepuzzledoverthisopenletter forcenturies.Init,BernardwriteslikeaRomangeneralsendingthe centurionsoﬀtobattlethebarbarians.

HebeginsbycomparingtheKnightsoftheTempletosecular knights.Thesecularknightfightsandkillsforhisownbenefitand glory.Healsodresseslikeadandy,withlonghair,draggingsleeves, pointedshoes,andhisbodybedeckedwithgoldandjewels.Bernard contraststhiswiththesimpleandpracticalgearoftheTemplars.Both theLatinandFrenchRulesoftheorderreflectthisconcernwithex

travagantclothingandmayshowBernard’sinﬂuence.

ButBernardisjustwarmingup.Hesoongoesbeyondeventhe crusadingideathatitismeritorioustoﬁghtforGod.Hestatesseveral timesthatkillingtheenemyofGodisagoodthinganddyingwhile doingsomeansinstantadmissiontoheaven.“FordeathforChristis nosin,whetheronekillsoriskilled,butmeritsgreatglory.”Againhe says,“Ifhekillsanevildoer,itisnothomicidebut,ifImightputitso, evilcide.”

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31

Ofcourse,thatdoesn’tsaymuchforthepooltheTemplarshaveto recruitfrom.

Afterpraisingthelifestyleandmissionoftheknights,Bernard thentakesthereaderonatourofthemainpilgrimagesites:the TempleofSolomon,Bethlehem,Nazareth,theMountofOlivesand theValleyofJosaphat,theJordanRiver,Calvary,theHolySepulcher, Bethpage,andBethany.

Whatisgoingonhere?Whyisthismonktellingthesementhat it’snotonlyallrighttokillnonChristians,it’sactuallyagoodthing? Bernarddoesreininabitatonepoint,sayingthattheinﬁdelsshouldn’t bedestroyedifthereissomeotherwaytokeepthemfromattacking thepilgrims,butbetterinﬁdelsdiethanus.

Certainly,the“letter”totheTemplarsﬁtsinwiththecrusading tradition.ThreehundredyearsbeforetheFirstCrusade,Charlemagne invadedandconqueredtheSaxonsseveraltimes,undertheexcuseof “converting”them.ButBernarddoesn’tmentionpersuasionwhen dealingwiththeSaracens.Heseemsdeterminedtoglorifyslaughter

ingthem.

WasthisletterreallywrittentostiﬀenthebackbonesoftheTem plars?Didtheydoubttherighteousnessoftheircause?Orwasthisfor therestofChristendom,includingthosewhowereuneasyaboutthese knightmonks?Bernardsaysthathewrotetheletterattheinsistence ofHughdePayns.Butwhowastherealintendedaudience?

ItseemsclearthatthiswasBernard’sattempttomakesurethat theOrderoftheTemplarswouldbeacceptedinEurope.It’spossible thatheevenwrotehisexhortationbeforetheoﬃcialrecognitionofthe orderattheCouncilofTroyes.Everythingaboutitsoundslikea

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Finally,whywasitsoimportantthatthisabbotgetthewordout? Whynotaletterbythepopeoratleastanarchbishop?

Oneansweristhatfromabout1120through1147,Bernard,abbot ofClairvaux,wasprobablythemostinﬂuentialmaninChristendom. Thesameintensepassionthatconvincedmostofhisfriendsandfam ilytogiveupaworldlylifeforastrictmonasticonehadbeenletloose upontherestofEurope.Bernardwasatirelesswriterandhenever mincedwords.Hegaveadvicetomostoftherulersoftheday,chided otherabbotsforlaxity,andluredtherowdystudentsofParisaway fromthebrothelandintothecloister.

IhavebeentryingtogetahandleonBernardformorethanthirty yearsnowandhestillslipsaway.Themanwasobviouslyimmensely charismatic.Hehadawaywithwordsthatnotranslationcancom pletelyevoke.It’sworthlearningLatinjusttowatchBernardplay withthelanguage.Hispersonallifeseemstohavebeenabovere proach.

Ontheotherhand,hewasaterriblenag.Someofhislettersareso criticalthatpeoplemusthavecringedwhentheysawhissealonthem. Healsotendedtogooverboardforcauseshebelievedin.Theexhorta tiontotheTemplarsisoneexample.AnotherthingthatIhaven’t quiteforgivenhimforishisdeterminationtoseethattheworkofthe teacherandphilosopherPeterAbelardwascondemned.

Hisenthusiasmﬁnallybackﬁredonhimwiththefailureofthe

SecondCrusade,in1149,whichhehadpreached.Theﬁrstsignthat

thingswereunravelingwaswhenhelearnedthatamonknamed RadulfwasencouragingthecrusaderstomassacretheJewsinthe Rhineland.Bernardwashorriﬁedandheimmediatelyracedthereto stopthemurders,withmuchsuccess.Ephraim,aJewfromBonn,who wasachildatthetime,laterwrote,“TheLordheardouroutcry,and Heturnedtousandhadmercyuponus...Hesentadecentpriest, onehonoredandrespectedbyalltheclergyinFrance,namedAbbé BernardofClairvaux,todealwiththisevilperson.Bernard...said tothem:‘ItisgoodthatyougoagainsttheIshmaelites.Butwhosoever touchesaJewtotakehislife,islikeonewhoharmsJesushimself.’”

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33

eredasaintbysomeandanopinionatedbusybodybyothers.Hewas canonizedshortlyafterhisdeathand,evenbeforehedied,atleastone ofhisfriendsstartedwritinghisbiographywithaneyetosainthood.

Therewerethosewhoalsoviliﬁedhimforhispreachingofthe crusadesandforhisintoleranceofPeterAbelardandotherscholars. OneofthemostviciousofBernard’sdetractorswastheEnglishwriter WalterMap.MapwasonlyaboutthirteenyearsoldwhenBernard diedin1153,buthislaterassociationwithCistercianmonksandhis admirationforAbelardseemstohavesouredhimontheabbot.He callsBernardaLucifer,shiningbrighterthantheotherstarsofnight, andtellsstoriesofhowhefailedtoperformmiracles,includinghow Bernardcouldnotraiseaboyfromthedead.“MasterBernardbade thebodybecarriedintoaprivateroom,and,‘shuttingeveryoneout helayupontheboy,andafteraprayerarose;buttheboydidnotarise, forhelaytheredead.’ThereuponI[Map]remarked,‘Hewassurely themostunluckyofmonks;forneverhaveIheardofamonklying downuponaboywithouttheboyarisingimmediatelyafterthe monk.’”

WalterMapalsodespisedTemplars,Hospitallers,Jews,andher eticsbuthesavedhismostacidcommentsfortheCisterciansandtheir reveredabbot.HisgreatestcomplaintaboutBernardand,byexten sion,theTemplars,wasnotthattheyweredepravedorsacrilegious butthattheywereproudandgreedy.ThisviewoftheTemplarswasto continuethroughouttheirexistence.

ItmaybethatBernard’sfamedidgotohishead,althoughhis pridewasmostlyinhisabsoluteconvictionthatheknewbest.The Cistercianswhocameafterhimmaywellhavedonetheirbesttoget andkeepallthepropertytheycould,butinthattheywerenodiﬀerent frommostothermonasticorders.

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 WilliamofSt.Thierry,VitaPrimaBernardi,BooksIV–VIII.

 RobertFossier,“LaFondationdeClairvauxetlaFamilledeSaintBernard,inMélangesSaint Bernard(Dijon,1953)pp.19–27.

 BrianPatrickMcGuire,TheDiﬃcultSaint.

 WilliamofSt.Thierry,BookV,SanctiBernardiAbbatisClaraeVallensis,OperaOmniaVol.I (Paris:Mabillion,1839).Guycouldnotbecomeamonkwithouthiswife’spermission.The conventofJullywasfoundedforotherfemalefamilymembersandwivesofmenwishingto becomeCistercians.

 ThierryLeRoy,HuguesdePayns(Troyes:MaisonduBoulanger,1999)p.71.

 BernardofClairvaux,“EpistolaXXXI,”SanctiBernardiAbbatisClaraeVallensis,OperaOmnia

Vol.I(Paris:Mabillion,1839)p.175.

Marquisd’Albon,CartularieGénéraldul’OrdreduTemple1119?–1150(Paris,1913)p.1.

 BernardofClairvaux,“ExhortatioadMilitesTempli,”ibid.CaputIII4,cols.1256–57.“Quando

quidemmorsproChristovelferenda,velinferenda,etnihilhabeatcriminis,etpluimum gloriaemereatur.”

 Ibid.“Sanecumocciditmalefactorum,nonhomicidased,utitadixerum,malicida.”  Ibid.,CaputI1,col.1255.“NamsibeatiquiinDominemoriuntur,nummultomagisquipro

Dominomoriuntur?”

 Ibid.,CaputV10,col.1262.

 Ibid.,CaputII4,col.1257.“NonquidemvelPaganinecandiesset,siquomodoaliterpossenta

nimiainfestioneseuoppressioneﬁdeliumcohiberi.Nuncautemmeliusestutoccidantur,quam cartereliquaturvigaextendantjustiadiniquitatemmaunussuas.”Mineisaloosetranslation, butthat’sthegistofit.

 Theworkisnotdatedandcouldhavebeenwrittenanytimebetweenabout1125and1130.  EphraimofBonn,SeferZekira,tr.ScholmoEidelmaninTheJewsandtheCrusaders(University

ofWisconsinPress,1977)p.122.

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C H A P T E R S I X

HughdePaynsTakes

theTemplarsontheRoad

B

y1127,theKnightsoftheTemplewereestablishedintheHoly

Land.Evenintheirearlystate,theyhadsoimpressedFulkof Anjouthat,in1124,hehadgiventhemthirtythousandlivresfromthe rentsofhislands.Otherlordshadalsodonatedproperty,especiallyin HughdePayns’homecountyofChampagne.

Butthenumberofmenwhohaddecidedtodevotetheirlivesto theorderwasstillfartoofew.SoitwasdecidedthatHugh,alongwith fellowknightsGodfreyofSt.Omer,PaynsofMontdidier,andRobert ofCraon,wouldundertakeajourneyofrecruitment.Itisinteresting thatthemenchosenwerefromvariouspartsofFrance.Godfreywas fromPicardyinthenorthandRobertwasaBurgundian.

ThegroupprobablymadeastopatRome,althoughthereisno recordofitorofameetingwiththepope,HonoriusII.Theythen wentontoTroyes,theseatofthecountsofChampagne.Although

HughofChampagnewasstillalive,hedidnotaccompanytheparty.

Hisnephew,Thibaud,wasnowcount.Thibaudwelcomedtheknights andhereHughmayhaveseenhisfamilyfortheﬁrsttimeinoverten yearsandmadefurtherarrangementsforthedisposalhisownland.

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thatwassplitamongtheTemplars,thebishopofChartres,theabbey oftheTrinityatVendome,andtheabbeyofFontevrault.Atthis point,FulkprobablyreceivedtheoﬀerfromKingBaldwintomarry hiseldestdaughter,Melisande.OnAscensionDay(May28)of1128

Fulkdecidedtotakethecross(andthekingdom).Hughwaspresent forthisceremony,aswasGautierdeBure,theconstableofJerusalem, whohadbeensentexpresslytobringthemarriageproposal.

ThepartywentontothecountyofPoitou,northwestofAnjou, wherevariouslordsgavegenerouslytotheneworder.Itwouldbenice tothinkthatatthistimeHughmayhaveseentheyoungEleanorof Aquitaine,whowouldonedaymakethepilgrimagetotheHoly

Land,ontheSecondCrusade,asthewifeofLouisVIIofFrance.

Butthereisnoevidencethatsheorherfather,thecountofPoitou, metwiththeTemplars.

HughthenvisitedKingHenryIofEnglandathiscourtinNor mandy,beforegoingontoEnglandandScotland.Henryapparently gavetheTemplars“goldandsilver”andannuallyadded“manysubsi diesinarmsandotherequipment.”

ThechroniclesofWaverleyAbbeyinEnglandtellofHugh’strip “withtwoknightsoftheTempleandtwoclerics.”Theknightswent alloverEnglandandasfarnorthasScotland,“andmanytookthe crossthatyearandthosefollowingandtooktheroutefortheHoly places.”

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37

Hugh de Payns Takes the Templars on the Road

FinallythepartyreturnedtoTroyessometimearoundJanuary 1129.Theretheyreceivedahouse,agrange,landandﬁeldsnearthe suburbofPreizefromaRaoulCrassus(thefat)andhiswife,Hélène. ThisdonationalmostcertainlybecamethecommanderyofTroyes. WitnessingitwereHugh,Godfrey,andPaynsalongwithTemplars namedRalphandJohn.Itseemsthatthetriphadbeenworthit.

OnlyonethingmorewasneededtomakesuretheOrderofthe KnightsoftheTempleofSolomonwassecurelyestablished.And Hughwasabouttogetit.

 OrdericVitalis,TheEccesiasticalHistoryofOdericVitalisvol.VI,ed.andtr.MargeryChibnall (Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,1978)pp.310–11.

 ThierryLeRoy,HuguesdePayns.(Troyes:MaisonduBoulanger,1999)pp.72–76.

 Ibid.,p.195.  Ibid.,p.76.

 RobertofTorigni,GestaNormannorumDucamVol.II,BookVII,pp.32–34,ed.andtr.Elisa

bethM.C.VanHouts(Oxford:OxfordMedievalTexts;1995)p.257.Isayapparentlybecause thereisn’tanyrecordofHenry’sgenerosity,exceptRobert’saccount.

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C H A P T E R S E V E N

TheCouncilofTroyes

A

ttheendof1128,HughdePaynsmadehiswaybackfromthe

tourofnorthernFrance,England,andFlanderstohisbirth placeinChampagne.Herehewouldatlastreceiveoﬃcialrecognition oftheTemplarsasamonasticorder.

AchurchcouncilconvenedatthetownofTroyesonJanuary13, 1129.Thepope,HonoriusII,didnotattend.Insteadhesenthislegate, Matthew,cardinalbishopofAlbano,whohadbeenapriestinParis. Thereweretwoarchbishops,RenaudofReimsandHenryofSens.There werealsoanumberofabbots,fourfromtheCistercianorder,among themBernardofClairvaux.Therewerealsotenbishopsandtwo “masters,”thatis,scholars,AlbericofReimsandFulger.

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39

The Council of Troyes

However,theclericswerenotreallypreparedtomakeamonastic Ruleformenwhosemainfunctionwasnottopraybuttoﬁght.Wisely, theyaskedtheadviceofmenwhounderstoodtheactivelife.Alongwith theclerics,Thibaud,countofChampagneandnephewandheirof

HughofChampagne,andWilliam,countofNevers,werepresent.The

secretaryofthecouncil,Matthew,explainsthepresenceofthese“illit erates”bysayingthattheywereloversoftheTruthwhocarefullywent overtheTemplarRuleandthrewoutanythingthatdidn’tseemreason able.“Itwasforthisthattheywereatthecouncil.”

TheLatinRulemadeprovisionsfortheneedsoftheknights.Un likeothermonks,whoateﬁshandeggs,Templarswereallowedred meatthreetimesaweek.Iftheyweretootired,theyneedn’tgetupin themiddleofthenightforprayers.TheRulealsoallowedtheknights tohavehorsesandservantstomaintainthem.

Theclericsdidtaketheopportunitytocomeoutstronglyagainst currentfashion.Theyforbadetheknightstowearimmoderatelylong hairandbeards,shoeswithlongcurlingpoints,lacyfrills,orexces sivelylongtunics.Obviouslytheaverageknightontheroadwasabit ofadandy.

Thenoblepursuitsofhuntingandhawkingwerealsoforbidden, withtheexceptionoflionhunting,“becausehe[thelion]isalways searchingforsomeonetodevourandhisstrengthisagainstallsoall strengthisagainsthim.”Thisshowsthatnotallthedangerinapil grimagewasfromhumanattackers.However,thecouncilmayhave beenthinkingofabiblicalanalogyhere,ofthelionfallinguponthe ﬂockoffaithfulpilgrims.

OthersectionsoftheRuleconcernbehavioratmeals,caringfor brotherswhobecomeill,andothercommoncustomsofmonasticlife;for instance,allpropertywaskeptincommonandprayersweresaidseven timesaday.SincetheknightswerenotexpectedtounderstandLatin, theyweretoldtosimplyrepeattheLord’sPrayeratthecorrecttimes.

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anymanofreligiontopaytoomuchattentiontothefacesofwomen; thereforenobrothermaytakethelibertyofkissingawidow,noravir ginnorhismother,norhissister,norhisfriend,noranyotherwoman.” Thiswastakenforgrantedinmostmonastichouses,wherethemonks spentmostoftheirtimewelloutofsightofanyfemaletemptation.But it’sclearthatthecouncilworriedthatafteraharddayofﬁghtingSara cens,itmightbediﬃcultforaKnightoftheTempletorememberthat,

whilehecouldstillpillage,rapewasnolongeranoption.

WhiletheLatinRulesoonprovedtoneedalotofeditingandaddi tions,forthepresentHughdePaynswassatisﬁedwiththeresultsofthe council.HereturnedtoJerusalemby1131,withfreshrecruits,donations, andaformalRulefortheKnightsTemplartoliveby.Theywerenowan acceptedpartofthereligiouslifeintheWestaswellastheEast.

 Olderaccountsgivethisdateas1128butthiswascausedbyconfusionsurroundingthefactthat

manypeopleinthetwelfthcenturystartedtheNewYearinspring,notthemiddleofwinter.

 CharlesJosephHefeleandDomH.Leclercq,HistoiredeConcilesd’aprèslesDocuments OriginauxVol.V(Paris:LetouzeyetAné,1912)p.670.

 LaurentDailliez,RègleetStatusdel’OrdreduTemple,2nded(Paris:ÉditionsDervy,1972).Re

printoftheLatinRulefrom1721,pp.325–26.ThebishopswerefromChartres,Soissons,Paris, Troyes,Orleans,Chalons,Laon,andBeauvais,allroughlyfromthenorthandeastofFrance. WilliamofNevers’sson,Raynald,diedaprisoneroftheTurksduringtheSecondCrusade. WilliamendedhisdaysasaCarthusianmonk.

 BernardofClairvaux,OperaOmniaVol.1(Paris,1839)letter21,col.164–65.“Savientissiquidem acutaefebrisexustaardoribus,etexhaustasudoribus.”Thatis,hehadafeverthatworehim out.

 Dailliez,pp.327–59.  Ibid.,p.326.  Ibid.,p.332,capitula10.  Ibid.,pp.335–36,capitula18.

 Ibid.,p.340,capitula29.“Derostris&laqueismanifestumest&Gentiles:&cumabomina

bile,hocomnibusagnoscatur,prohibimus...capillorumsuperﬂitaten&vestiumimmoder atanlongitudinembarberenonpermittimus.”

 Ibid.,p.348.“Quiaipsecircuit,quaerensquemdevoret,&manusejuscontraomnes,omni

umquemanuscontraeum.”

 Ibid.,p.359,capitula72.“PericulosumessecredimusomniReligionivultummulierumnimis

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C H A P T E R E I G H T

GoForthandMultiply

O

necantracetherecruitingjourneyofHughandhiscompan

ionsbyrecordsofthegiftsdonatedtothem.Bothgreatlords andminoroneslineduptomakedonationstotheTemplars.Thiswas notonlybecausetheybelievedinthecausebut,asisstilltrue,thesup portofimportantpeoplebroughtingiftsfromtherankandﬁle,who wishedtoassociatethemselvesincharitywiththeirlocalrulers.

AftertheCouncilofTroyes,HughdePaynsreturnedtoJerusa

lem,butotherTemplarscontinuedtocrisscrossEuropeseekingsup portfortheneworder.

Inthesouth,HughRigaud,anotherTemplar,wasbusycanvass ingfortheorder.Asearlyas1128,hewasinToulouse,wherePeter Bernardandhiswife,Borella,gavethemselvesandeverythingthey ownedtotheTemplars,withtheprovisionthat,iftheyhadchildren whowantedtojointheorder,theywouldbeallowedto.Rigaudspent thenextseveralyearsgettingdonationsfortheTemple,rangingfrom lands,tithes,andvineyardsto“ashirtandpants”fromatownswoman “and,afterherdeath,herbestcloak.”HughRigaudcanbefoundac ceptingdonationchartersinsouthernFranceandnorthernSpain throughthe1130s.

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welltoreceivegrantsofﬁelds,houses,vines,horses,oldclothes,and evenserfs,buttheseweren’tthingsthatcouldbeputinanonlineauc tionforquickcash.Manyofthegiftscouldn’tbeuseduntilthedonor haddied.Othersconsistedofacertainpartofaharvesteachyearorso manycheeses.

ThenatureofthegiftstotheordermeantthattheTemplarsneeded toestablishwaystationsofsomesorttoreceivegoodsandtransferthem fromEuropetotheCrusaderStates.GreatmonastichouseslikeCluny andCiteauxwouldestablishpriories,whichweredependenthouses, staﬀedwithonlyafewmonks.ButtheTemplarsweredesperatefor moremenofﬁghtingagetojoininthebattle,sonewrecruitswereen couragedtoleaveforJerusalemassoonaspossible.Thatdidn’tleave anyonetodirectthecollectionandprocessingofsupplies.

ThefactthattheearliestTemplarsweren’tallthatwellorganized isevidentbythevarioustitlesthatHughRigaudisgiveninthechar ters.Sometimesheisabrotherofthesociety,sometimesheismen tionedonlybyname,andsometimesbythetitle“procurator,”which seemsagooddescriptionofhiswork,althoughit’snotlistedinthe Ruleasanadministrativeposition.

TheTemplarsmayhaveeventuallyestablishedhousesonthe modelofthosealreadyrunbytheHospitallers,whohadbeenreceiv inggiftsintheWestsincejustaftertheFirstCrusade(around1100), particularlyinSpainandthesouthofFranceaswellasItaly.

Eventually,theorderorganizeditselfinterritoriesthatwere groupedaccordingtothelanguagesofthebrothers.Theseweremostly French,Spanish,andEnglish,withsomeItaliansandGermans.The TemplarsneverestablishedthemselvesinScandinaviabuttherewere somecommanderiesinHungaryandCroatia.