Militant Monks Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Knights Templar, a military mold of monks soluble only to the Popehimself, were founded in 1118. Their primary responsibility, at leastinitially, was to raise protection to Christians making pilgrimages to the consecrated Land. They rose in power, both unearthly and secular, to become one ofthe richest and most powerful entities in Christendom. By the clipping of theirdisbandment in 1307, this highly secretive organization controlled vastwealth, a put across of merchant ships, and castles and estates spanning theentire Mediterranean area.When the crusaders captured Jerusalem from the Muslims in 1099, the Church boost all faithful Christians to visit that holy city in hostelry toaffirm their faith. The area, however, was still subject to sporadic attacksfrom various non-Christian f performances. A littler group of knights, led by Hughde Payens, vowed to protect the pilgrims. The group was grantedquasi-official experimental condition by ability Baldwin II of Jerusalem, w ho allowed themquarters in a take flight of the royal palace near the Temple of Solomon. It isfrom this initial posting that the order derived its name. They took thestandard vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and were bound to the rulesof the Augustinian order. Upton-Ward 1The order languished in near-anonimity for several(prenominal) years, despite generouscontributions from various European personages. In 1126, Count Hugh ofChampagne, having donated his estates to Bernard of Clairvaux for subroutine inbuilding a monestary for the Cistercian order, arrived in Jerusalem to jointhe Templars. This action indirectly obligated Bernard to support the newlychosen advocacy of his benefactor. He wrote to the count, "If, for Godswork, you have changed yourself from count to knight and from rich to poor,I congratulate you." Howarth 49In the year 1126, King Baldwin found two reasons for wanting official perception of the order. First, he had, perhaps prematurely, bestowed uponH ugh de Payens the title of Master of the Temple. Second, the king had theopportunity to dip an attack on the city of Damascus, but he needed muchknights. Papal recognition would allow open recruiting in Europe for theorder. King Baldwin sent a letter to Bernard of Clairvaux, the ordersprimary patron, later known as Saint Bernard, asking him to petition thePope for official recognition of the order. Howarth 50-51 The Kingsletter ... ...ghts Templar. The final blow, however, was probablythree-fold a general unpopularity of the order among the Europeanaristocracy, callable in part to jealousy a chronic shortage in the Frenchtreasury, despite heavy taxation and Master de Molays refusal to considera merger of the Templars with the Hospitallers, as suggested by the Pope.The fact remains, however, that no evidence of heresy was ever found.Burman/Templars 180An order founded by nine knights in Jerusalem came to amass great wealthand power, which speaks well of their integrity and discr etion. They becamethe "shock troops" of the Holy See. When they lost their original mission ofprotecting pilgrims upon the fall of Jerusalem, their downfall becameinevitable. Sinclair 37 deeds CitedBurman, Edward. The Inquisition. New York Dorset, 1984.--. The Templars. Rochester, VT Destiny, 1986.Howarth, Stephen. The Knights Templar. New York Dorset, 1982.Payne, Robert. The History of Islam. New York Dorset, 1987.Robinson, John J. Born in Blood. New York Evans, 1989.Sinclair, Andrew. The Sword and the Grail. New York Crown, 1992.Upton-Ward, J. M. The Rule of the Templars. Suffolk Boydell, 1992.