But interestingly enough, as Prof. Helen Nicholson noted, their proclivity towards martial pursuits was only developed as a reactionary measure, rather than a (starting) ideology that dictated religious warfare. [5], Coordinates: 36°45′N 36°20′E / 36.750°N 36.333°E / 36.750; 36.333. Trapessac was constructed in the 12th century by the Knights Templar and, together with the nearby fortress at Bagras, guarded the Syrian Gates, the principal pass between the coastal region of Cilicia and inland Syria. The Knights Templar were also issued with the ubiquitous lance (preferably made of sturdy yet flexible ashwood, with lengths of around 13 ft), three types of knives (including a combat dagger and a bread knife), and uniquely a ‘Turkish’ mace (grudgingly adopted from their Muslim foes) – possibly inspired by the armor-shattering capacity of such heavy weapons. The Knights Templar today - who and where are they? These meetings also doubled as general assemblies that appointed officials and passed newer rules and amendments. This miracle-working object supposedly belonged to the Knights Templar, prior to being lost forever after the Order’s dissappearance.

Book References: Knight Templar 1120 – 1312 (By Helen Nicholson) / God’s Warriors: Crusaders, Saracens and the Battle for Jerusalem (Edited By Helen Nicholson and David Nicolle) / Knights Templar Encyclopedia (By Karen Ralls), Online Sources: Provincial Priory of Hampshire and Isle of Wight / BibliotecaPleyades / Knight-Templar (link here)/ DominicSelwood / Britannica, Home » Blog Posts » Military » The Knights Templar: Origins, History, And Military. These great clashes happened in a land where many civilisations have flourished and fought. That is because after the Order was ratified by the Church (possibly at the Council of Nablus, circa 1120 AD), the king of Jerusalem, Balwin II, gifted the Templars a wing of his makeshift ‘palace’ inside the Al Aqsa mosque situated on Temple Mount. Templar forts in Syria include one on the island of Arwad. On account of this, it was called Gâvur Dağ (Mount of Infidels) by the Turks. Knights Templar Collection by Khandace Collins. Indeed, many speculate whether the Knights Templar and crusaders should have taken Damascus before Jerusalem to secure their control of the region. Afflicted by such unconventional forays, the monastic warriors decided to once again take up their swords.

The mystery had always played a part in the cryptic aura of the Templars, so much so that one of the charges made against them in 1307 AD entailed ‘secrecy’. American Society for Irish Medieval Studies, Byzantine Studies Association of North America, Grand Priory of Knights Templar in Scotland, Harvard – Standing Committee on Medieval Studies, International Congress on Medieval Studies, Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani, Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship, The Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, University of Oxford – Medieval History links, York Rite Sovereign College of North America. The specific term "Mount Amanus" is referred to by ancient writers. So as we discussed at length in one of our articles about the medieval knights – “the first medieval knight was not really the lord who dabbled in opulent affairs. Both of these organizations are functional, albeit in a limited capacity, even in our modern era. Explore. In return, the Order was gifted lands, farms and even castles for management. From the Babylonians to the Assyrians, the Hittites and the ancient Greeks. The Knights Templar knew Syria well and its seaboard fell under the control of different crusader kingdoms during the 11th century. And while a good many of them later recanted their confessions, including the Grand Master, the Pope was coerced to disband the entire order, after King Philip IV threatened to go to war over the issue. An armor list dating from circa 1165 AD sheds light on the protective equipment worn by the knights of the Templar Order. Templar Syria – a jewel of medieval Europe. This country befits and holds similar many of the most common and closely guarded values of the original Knights Templar. In 1098, the monks gave provisions to the Crusader army besieging Antioch. And on an interesting note, Al Aqsa is possibly the oldest Islamic structure in the world.

In fact, the high temperatures of the Outremer often forced many of their Hospitaller brethren, who unfortunately tended to wear black, to adopt lighter armor in the form of panceria or light mail. On June 7, 1192, the Crusader army marched to attack the Holy City, (then occupied by Saladin). The king also managed to either convince or pressurize Pope Clement to issue a Papal Bull that called for the arrest of all Templars residing in other parts of Europe beyond France.

Some of the arrest warrants had religious overtones with phrases like: “Dieu n’est pas content, nous avons des ennemis de la foi dans le Royaume” [“God is not pleased.

And while they were obviously not expected to fight in battles, many of the nuns actively took part in the spiritual side of affairs – by helping the priest-brothers in their praying tasks and even offering psychological counseling to warriors.