The Knights Templar. From glory to tragedy 2737362202, 9782737362200

Citation preview

ISBN: 978-2-7373-6220-0

911,!11u11~mm1

Patrick Huchet

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR From glory to tragedy Translation: Dedicace

Editions QUEST-FRANCE

SUMMARY

Foreword ................................... ... ..... ..... .......... .... ....... ..... ..... ... .. ... ...... ..

7

"God wills it!" .......... ... . .... .... ...... ........... .......... .... ........... ..... .... ........ .

9

The Order of the Temple, a dazzling expansion (1128-1149) ... 25 The Temple weaves its web ... commanderies in France and elsewhere in Europe ...... ............ .. ...... .. ........ ... .... .. ...... ..... .... .. ..... 39 The Knights Templar in the East (1120-1291) ... ... ....................... . 51 The Knights Templar in the 13th century: a force generating many conflicts ....... .. ...................... ........ ....... .......... .........

81

The decline and fall of the Order of the Temple (1291-1314) ... 97 Conclusion ...................... .... .. ..... ............. ......... .............................. ..... . 118

Bibliography .................. ..... ..... ............ ................ ...... ........... .............. 119 For further information ....................................... .. ... .......... ...... ...... .. . 120 Chronology ... .......................... ....... ... ........... ..... ................................... 121

Fore-worcl· Ah! The Knights Templar. They are present everywhere in France: all those sites claiming their "Templar" church or-chapel, th~se subterranean passages sheltering their magnificent treasure. For.many long years, even I, after hearing my grandfather's affirmations, was convinced of the existence of the harnl~t of "Les · Moines-Rouges", next to my village of birth. Unfortunately, it was nothing but legend. And, all~those "secret" societies which claim to be the heirs of the Temple, b9-rely hesitating to add,.if necessary, a hint of "freemasonry". The Order of the Temple was dissolved in the year of grace 1312, . but it still appears to be very much alive, at least in our memories, as can be seen by the thousands of publications and articles devoted to the sub. . ject. One thing should b,r;: made clear from the outset, there. is the history of the Order and there is the legend, which still continues to consume a huge amount of ink! Only the first aspect of the Templar epic is covered in this book: an attempt to understand how and why the "Temple" experienced such a success and grew to such an extent that, in the 13th century, it was a formidable military and financial power just as muc~ in the East as in the West. And yet, the number of the "Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of So_lomon" could be counted on the fingers of one hand when they first answered the call of the knight from the region of Champagne, Hugh de Payns._

"Goo WILLS IT!

Left page: "Taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders", by Emile Signol. Representative of the numerous "allegorical" (and anachronistic!) paintings of the 19th century, this painting depicts well the joy of the crusaders who have conquered the Holy City. Musee du Chareau, Versailles.

C> Ph. RMN.

Miniature in "Le Llvre des Merveilles", 15th century. (B1bliothf!qu e Nationale de France).

11

THE IDEA OF A CRUSADE

pies of the Prophet Mohammed since the 7th century. The ultimate "sacrilege", Al-

Take a close look at this illustration from "Le Livre des Merveilles". The scene is in

Aqsa Mosque had been built near the Holy Sepulchre, on the rock which, according to

Jerusalem. In order to have the right to

the Koran, Mohammed stepped on before

enter the Holy Sepulchre and worship at

ascending to heaven.

the tomb of Christ, Christian pilgrims had

Between the 7th and 9th centuries, Islam,

to pay a fee to the Saracens, the Muslim

declaring "jihad" (the "holy war"), had con-

defenders of Islam.

quered the shores of the Mediterranean

Although it dates from the 15th century,

basin. Crossing the Gibraltar Straits in 711,

this image presents a situation which was

Muslim troops invaded Spain and entered

completely intolerable to the Popes, although it is true that Palestine, the "Holy

France, until the victory by Charles Martel at Poitiers in 732 put an end to their victo-

Land", had been in the hands of the disci-

rious march.

THE

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

War w as now declared between the

THE INFLAMMATORY SERMON OF POPE URBAIN II

cross and the crescent. In around 1OOO AD, Christian conscience : in 997, the taking of

Among the-authors who have used his words, the version of Fu1cher of Chartres, in his "Historia Hierosolymit.ana"in around 1105 is the one most

Santiago de Compostela by the Muslim

often cited:

leader Al-Mansur, who razed Spain's holy

. "Fo,; as the most of you have heard, the 7:urks _andA rabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory ofRomania as far wes·t as the shore of the Medite"anean [. ..] They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire. [. . .] · · On this account I, OF rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish _this everywhere and to persuade-all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and ,knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from ihe lands of our friends. I say this to those who are present, it is meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it. Al[ who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested. 0 what a disgrace if such a·despised and bas1; race, which worships d=ons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christt Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels ·and end with vict~ry this war which should have been begun long ago. Let those who for a long time, have · been robbers, now become knights. Let those who

two events had a major impact on the

city (but not the tomb of the Apostle James) and forced his victims to carry the bells of the destroyed church to the Great Mosque in Cordoba, the capital of the Kingdom of Al-Andalus. And in 1009, the destruction of the Holy Sepulchre by Caliph Al-Hakim. The entire Western Christian world was in shock and the idea of a "crusade ", a holy w ar against "infidels", took root during the 11 th century and led to the famous call of Pope Urban II on 27 November 1095 at the Council of Clermont.

" G oo

W IL L S

,r , ·

"Pope Urban II preaching the Crusade in Clermont". 1\vo illustrations recall these events: the one on page 10 is taken fro.m the "Chronicles of Saint Denis" by J. Fouquet (15"' cent\lry, BNf); the one on page 11 comes from "Livre des passages fails outremer", 15th century. Bibliotheque Nationale de France.

•. have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. ,. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let them eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide." Oean Richard, "I.:Esprit de la croisade", Le Cerf, 1?69.)

TH!: KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

Top: Godfrey of Bouillon, the victor of Jerusalem, prays at the Holy Sepulchre. Miniature in "Histoire d'Outremer" by William of fyre, 13th century, Lyons Municipal Library. Ph.D. Nicole, Lyons Mumcipal library. Left: This superb fresco in the Church of Saint-Nicolas in Tavant (lndre-et-Loire) presents a "paumier", pilgrim of the Holy Land, recognisable by the palm leaf he is carrying, the symbol of this pilgrimage. Abbayede la Pierre-qui-Vue, Saint=-1.eger.Vauban, b:li6ons Zodiaque.

THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN JERUSALEM: THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE PAR EXCELLENCE In the Edict of Milan in 313, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, established freedom of conscience and made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. Converting himself in 323, he had the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre built on top of the tomb _of Christ in Jerusalem, in about 329. - Pilgrimages to this site, the greatest symbol of Christianity, started shortly afterwards and routes leading to the Holy Land, such as the one departing &om Aquitaine, )lave existed since the 4th century. During the following centuries,°an increasing number of faithful headed for Palestine in order to worship at the Holy Sites and death during these pilgrimages was considered to be a-supreme accomp1i?hment. The taking of Jerusalem by the Muslims in the 7th century did not put an end to thes.e pilgrimages because the Koran recogruses the teachings of Christ (although dominated by those of Mohammed). It was only in 1009 that Caliph Al-cHakim put an end to this tolerance and had the Holy Sepulchre destroyed (although it _w as testored in 1048). The i:,eply to this attack on the "holy tomb", conside"red by Christians to be intolerable,' was the first crusade preached by Urban II in Clermont: w'e must free the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy Land!

"Goo

f

1

WILLS

,r!"

ETAT DEKIEV

OCEAN ATLANTIQUE

Fi t crusade (1095-1099) Route of Godfrey of Bouillon Route of Bohemond Iof Antioch Rou1e of Robert of Flanders

:~J:,

0

Third crusade (1147·1149)

if~;tc:!~fe;°St~t~~~n around 1102-

b

C

THE

FIRST CRUSADE

AND THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM

( I 096-1099) It was to the cry of "God wills it!" that the knights (the militia of feudal society) answered, with enthusiasm, the urgent call of the Pope to put their bloodthirsty ardour at the service of faith and not fruitless private wars. They were not alone: thousands of simple peasants, subjugated by the inflammatory predictions of monks and other fanatical hermits (such as Peter the Hermit), sewed a cross on to their clothes, the symbol of their desire to free the Holy Cities. They became "crusaders". More than fifteen thousand followed Peter the Hermit mounted on his mule and most of them perished at the hands of the Bulgarian and Turkish armies after committing many acts of violence along the way. If only they had waited for the Peter the Hermit leads the popular crusade. The British Library, London.

THE

K NIGHTS T EMPLAR

departure of the crusade officially planned

-

the first comprised those from Lor-

to leave Puy-en-Velay on 15 August 1096!

raine and Germany, commanded by a

In effect, on this date, four powerful armies set off, led by important feudal lords:

famous leader, Godfrey N of Boulogne (better known as Godfrey of Bouillon), accompanied by his brother Baldwin and

" G o o W I LLS IT !"

his cousin (who both became Kings of Jerusalem); - the second mainly comprised Frenchmen from the north, led by Hugh I Vermandois, the brother of the King France, Philippe I. The Dukes Normandy (Robert Courteheuse) and

of of of of

Brittany (Alan IV Fergent) and Count Etienne of Blois w ere also among their numbers; - the third left from the South under the lei\ page:

Procession of crusaders led by Peter the Hermit and Godfrey of Bouillon near jerusa]em the day before the city was attacked. Painting by Victor Schnetz. . 1..uSCe du Chiiteau, Versailles.

O Photo RMN .

Top: Miniatures in "Roman de Godefroy de Bouillon et Saladin", 14th century. Bibliotheque Nationale de France.

Opposite: "Histoire d'Outremer" by William offyre, 13th century. Bibliotheque Nationale de France.

On these two miniatures, crusaders can be seen throwing the heads of Saracens killed in combat (the one at the top follows the taking of Jerusalem), creating panic among the enemy. The one at the bottom depicts the use of the trebuchet, a sort of catapult which launched enormous stones designed to destroy the walls ... and their defenders.

orders of Raymond N , Count of Toulouse; - the fourth brought together Normans from Sicily under the leadership of Bohemond I of Antioch.

In December 1096, Godfrey of Bouillon's troops reached Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, ruled by Emperor

Alexis. They were joined by the other armies in April-May 1097. After crossing the Bosporus Straits, the crusaders entered the Muslim world and attacked the "infidels" by laying siege to the town of Iznik. On 19 June 1097, the Turks

"Goo

WILLS

IT!"

ence of "infidels": fifteen days of pillaging and massacres, such as the massacre of the thousands of Muslims who had sought refuge in Al-Aqsa Mosque. On 20 July, Godfrey of Bouillon was proclaimed King but only agreed to accept the title of "Protector of the Holy Sepulchre".

BALDWIN

I,

KING OF JERUSALEM

THE

FORMATION

OF THE CRUSADER STATES

Baldwin I (1100-1118) Godfrey of Bouillon refused the title of King of Jerusalem. The valiant knight died in summer 1099 when the crusaders triumphed. His brother, Baldwin, who had founded the County of Edessa, succeeded him and was crowned on 25 December 1099 in Bethlehem (a symbolic date and place!). His reign lasted eighteen years and was marked by numerous wars. • 1101: Baldwin I seized Arsuf and Caesarea Palaestina; • 1103: he conquered Acre with the help of the Genoan fleet; • 1109: he took Beirut. With the fall of Tripoli, the County of Tripoli was created, the vassal state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. During the reign of Baldwin I, four Crusader States were created: the Kingdom of "Battle outside the walls of Antioch" by Frederic-Henri Schopin. Designed, like so many others, to glorify the first crusade, this 19th century painting describes the bloodthirsty enthusiasm of the crusaders, driven by the bishop brandishing his crozier, while the enemy, the Turk (intended to represent the defeated Saracens), powerless, watches the Christians' victorious march. Musee du chateau, Versailles© Ph. RMN.

Jerusalem, which stretched from the mountains of Lebanon to the Sinai Desert; Christian armies continued their march

the County of Tripoli; the Principality of

towards Jerusalem, laying siege to the stronghold of Antioch for seven months

Antioch; the County of Edessa.

before the city fell on 29 June 1098. under siege surrendered to the emissaries of

Ion), in reply to the call of the Armenians,

Emperor Alexis, depriving the victors of the

took Edessa and founded the County of

On 7 June 1099, the crusaders camped at the foot of the walls of the Holy City. After

fruitful pillaging on which they had been counting. In March 1098, Baldwin of Boulogne (the brother of Godfrey of Bouil-

Edessa, the first of the Crusader States. Despite major losses and the scorched earth policy practised by the Turks, the

a five-month siege, Jerusalem was taken on 15 July 1099. With fire and blood it was "purified" of several centuries of the pres-

The situation appeared very favourable for the Christians unlike for the Muslims who were weakened by their rifts. Word of the success of the first crusade was heard throughout the West and, every year, many believers followed the path to Jerusalem.

THE

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

The reception and protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land The main access route to the "heavenly city", the one taken by the majority of "paurniers" (the palm leaf was the symbol of this pilgrimage) was, unfortunately, highly dangerous: from Jaffa, on the coast, over the Ramla plain, the pilgrims walked in constant fear of attacks from bandits and Muslims. They were subjected to deadly ambushes, such as the one in 1119, which had such repercussions that it was recounted by several chroniclers. It may even have raised awareness of the need for a permanent armed militia capable of protecting the pilgrims. Also, the Muslims still had two strongholds, leaving a terrible sense of danger in the Kingdom of Jerusalem: Tyre in the north and, above all, Ascalon in the south, the key access route to Egypt. In 1115, the troops occupying the latter attempted to take the town of Jaffa. Baldwin II succeeded in taking Tyre in 1124, but it was necessary to wait until 1153 for his successor, Baldwin III, to finally seize Ascalon. Apart from problems of safety, during the 11 th century, the need to provide facilities for the growing number of pilgrims became apparent. Two Benedictine monasteries provided them with some welldeserved rest, one for men, Sainte-Mariela-Latine, and the other for women, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. In around 1050, a hospital was founded near the Holy Sepulchre. This hospital, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, was managed by Gerard, a priest from Italy, at the time when Godfrey of Bouillon's army took Jerusalem in 1099. The foundation of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem The leader of the crusades made the Hospital of Saint John wealthy with seve-

ral estates he had in France; others copied his generous example and the Hospital's revenue increased greatly. Gerard, along with the brothers who treated the patients under his orders, decided to separate from the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-la-Latine. His project was a success and he formed a new congregation, the members of which took the name the "Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem". Pope Pascal II, in a papal bull of 111 3, confirmed the donations made to this hospital, which he placed under the protection of the Holy See. Raymond du Puy, Gerard's successor, was the first to take the title of preceptor, or Grand Master of the Order. He created a rule for the Hospitallers, approved by Pope Callixtus II in 1120 and confirmed by his successors. This rule obliged new monks to take three

Heavenly apparition during the siege of Jerusalem. Miniature in "Histoire d'Outremer" by William of iyre. 13th century. Ph.D. Nicole, Bibliotheque Nationa!e de France

Previous pages: "Bertrand of Saint-Gilles receiving the surrender of Cadi Farler el-Mouk after the taking of liipoli" by CharlesAlexandre Debacq, 19th century. Leader of one of the crusader armies, Raymond IV of Saint-Gilles, Count of Toulouse, fought in the Holy Land for many years before being killed in liipoli on 28 February 1105. Musee du chilteau, Versailles.

"Goo

ordinary vows, to which was added a fourth in which they undertook to receive poor pilgrims from the Holy Land in their hospital and protect them during their journey to Christ's tomb.

HUGH DE PAYNS AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE ORDER OF THE "POOR KNIGHTS OF CHRIST AND OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON"

Hugh de Payns Humility must be the leading virtue for the historian, as for the pilgrim (of Jerusalem, Rome or Santiago de Compostela!), for it is true that the interpretation of the documents and sources of that

The orders of knighthood. Presented from left to right: the Hospitallers of the Holy Sepulchre, the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Knights Templar, the Knights of Saint James of the Sword, the Teutonic Knights. lllusrration by Pierre Joubert.

WILLS

IT!"

time has invited much discussion among the most eminent specialists. Whether it is the personality of Hugh de Payns or the foundation of the Order of the Temple itself, it is important to note the absence of absolute certainties. The one who was to become the first Grand Master of the Temple came from Payns, a few kilometres from Troyes. His family was related to the Montbard family, from which came the mother of a monk who was going to play a major role in the foundation of the Order of the Temple, Saint Bernard. Hugh de Payns accompanied Count Hugh of Champagne on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before, it would appear, deciding to set up home there in around 1114-1115.

THE

KNIGHTS T EMPLAR

"Hugh de Payns, the first Grand Master of the Order of the Temple" (? - 1136) by Henri Lehmann, 19th century. There is no illustration from the 12th century presenting Hugh de Payns. Musee du Ch.fiteau, Versailles© Ph: RMN - Blot/Ojeda.

gives the names of its founders: "Hues de paiens

delez troies et Giefroiz de Saint omer" (Hugh de Payns of Troyes and Godfrey de Saint Omer). According to this Chronicle, Hugh de Payns, Godfrey de Saint-Omer and seven other knights took three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the same as those usually taken by monks from religious orders. In order to pardon them for their sins, Warmund, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, entrusted them with the following mission: "ut vias et itiThe foundation of the order of the "Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" When (1118? 1119? 1120?) and who created this ."militia" in charge of protecting pilgrims? The main sources highlight the participation of several figures : Baldwin I, crowned King of Jerusalem on 11 March 1118, Warmund, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Knight Hugh de Payns. The "Chronique de Guillaume de Tyre", generally cited by historians, was written by William, the Archbishop of Tyre (until his death in 1186). In it, he recounts the beginnings of the Order of the Temple and

nera, ad salutem peregrinorum contra latronum ... " (" to guard ways and paths from bandits for the salvation of pilgrims") . The services of these valiant knights were greatly appreciated by King Baldwin II who provided accommodation for them in one of the palace's rooms alongside the former Al-Aqsa Mosque (identified at that time as being the former Temple of Solomon). They were now the "Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. Between 1119 (if we agree that this was the year in which the Order of the Temple was founded) and 1129, an important year which saw the recognition of its Rule by the Council of Troyes, the Order's begin-

SUMMER 1998 :

THE COMMANDERY OF PAYNS - IS FOUND!

Although the existence of the commandery was vouched for in archives, the absence of physical proof was evident in this small commune at the gateway to Troyes which, rightfully, was proud of being the birthplace of the founder of the Order of the Temple. Archaeological digs were carried out in summer 1998 after aerial surveys localised sites-. September proved to be a very fruitful month: what emotion to see .the reappearance of the multicoloured pavement of the Templar chapel and many other "treasures", including a very beautiful pilgrimage ensign (scallop shell) and, above all, seven hundred coins, French silver denier, dating from the 12th and 1~111 centuries (now presented at Saint-Loup Museum in Troyes). The digs and th~ir find ings are exhibited at the Museum of Hugh de Payns in Payns as they rightfully should be!

"Goo

WILLS

IT!"

Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem

nings appear to have been very difficult

recognition of the new order, not to men-

ers the site of the Temple

and recruitment somewhat faltering with

tion the pressing need for Western knights

only a few important seigniors joining them: in 1120, Foulques, the Count of Anjou and future King of Jerusalem, in

to reinforce their very meagre ranks, Hugh de Payns left the Holy Land in Autumn 1127 accompanied by five "Templars ":

cf Solomon to Hugh de Payns and Godfrey de Saint-Omer''. illumination in •Wstoire d'Outre-mer'' by William of fyre. 13th century. Bibhothi:que nationale de France.

1125, Hugh, the Count of Champagne. In effect, the new Order had to deal with a fundamental contradiction for that time - that of imagining monks carrying weapons. Feudal society was designed according to a tripartite system of organisation defined by the Bishop of Laon, Adalberon, in around 1030: "Each occupies

in the world a place desired by God; each is ordered for one of three functions which man may fulfil in society: prayer, fighting, labour" (the clergy, the knight, the peasant). How to justify the existence of soldier monks, that they could kill, even if their victims were enemies of religion or bandits attacking pilgrims? Faced with the need to reply to this difficult dilemma and the Pope's official

Godfrey de Saint-Omer, Payen de Montdidier, Geoffrey Bisol, Archambaud de Saint-Agnan and Rolland. It appears that he was carrying messages from the King ofJerusalem, Baldwin II, destined for Pope Honorius II and Brother Bernard, the founder of Clairvaux Abbey (in 1115), who had great influence in the Papal court. As Hugh de Payns and his companions set out for the West, the fate of the "Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" was being played out: that it would be heard and that it could reasonably hope to develop, or else ultimately be destined to disappear. Nobody imagined the huge success it was going to encounter during the following decades!

"Official recognition, by Pope Honorius II, of the Order of the Templars at the Council of Troyes' ", painting by Marius Granet, 19th century. As with many similar works, this anachronistic painting barely bothers to accord with historical reality. In effect, Pope Honorius Ji did not participate in the Council of Troyes; he :,vas represented by his legate, Cardinal Albano. Muse, du Chatea~, Versailles© Ph. RMN

THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE A DAZZLING EXPANSION (1128-1149)

THE

FRUITFUL TOUR

OF HUGH DE PAYNS

AND HIS COMPANIONS ( 1128)

Though lacking absolute proof, it is fair

Map of Europe in the 12th century.

to guess that their first stopover was in Rome in order to draw up a specific Rule for their special status as soldier monks

("oratore" and "bellatore") with Pope Honorius II. In effect, up until then, the "Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" had followed the Augustinian Rule being linked to the canons of the Holy Sepulchre. It is very difficult to retrace the route of Hugh de Payns and his "brothers", through

GRANDDUCHE DE RUSSIE

,1ARCIIEDE' CARJNTIIJj..;;/ MARCHE DE

ROYAUME DE

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