Knights Templar

The First Crusade signified the reunification of Christendom in Europe, pushing a united Christian force towards the capture and protection of pilgrim routes to Jerusalem, Holy Land. Following the departure of most crusaders whom declared their vows to Christianity fulfilled, came about a French knight Hughes de Payens. "Hughes and eight other knights, took vows of obedience to Warmund of Picquigny; the Patriarch of Jerusalem, resolving to live in holy poverty and charity and to devote themselves to the care and protection of Christian pilgrims..." They were named aptly as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, though more popularly referred to as The Knights Templar. Organized as monastic warriors, they were a Christian military order built upon sole perseverance towards the survival of Christendom in the holy land.

For seven years since being elected, Pope Urban II was patiently pushing a reunification of western Christendom as the age of the crusades came about in Europe. However, as patient as he seemed he was pushing rather aggressively since being elected to the holy seat, known as the Holy See. November 27th, 1095; Pope Urban II desperately called for a council to meet due to Muslim threat rising in the east, specifically the Eastern Roman Empire. The Pope delivered an empowering speech to some three hundred clerics in attendance at the Council of Clermont. "Let those who

have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory 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 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 have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor." The deliverance of the Pope's speech created a sense of unity within Christianity itself. Regardless of the turmoil between denominations, Europe was left in religious disarrangement. The Muslim threat brought unity to Christendom, as they were fighting for the same cause, the preservation of their beliefs. The Pope's sermon at Clermont resulted in thousands of Christian's ready to give their life for the cross.

As a result of the Pope's powerful sermon, not only did the newly waged "holy war" attract the knightly class, but instead attracted both lower and upper classes together (knights/peasants). Unanticipated migration from all over Western Europe began,

signifying the first crusade had officially begun. The unexpected mass turnout was thrilling," It was truly an army of "crusaders," for they bore the sign of the cross on their garments as a reminder that they should mortify the flesh, and in the hope that they would in this way triumph over the enemies of the cross of ChristÐ'..." However, along with mass amounts of unexpected people came the need of controlling such a vast mixture of various countries. The organization of the "People's" crusade as it was called proved to be quite difficult, as an overly anxious and excited crowd marched their way right into battle against the well prepared Turks. This proved to be costly, with inexperience came a foreseen slaughtering. Aside from a rather sloppy and unorganized initial effort, the main crusader army established dominance; their coordination combined with fortitude inevitably captured Jerusalem in 1100.

Following the substantial victory in the first crusade, most crusaders left Jerusalem. Arguing that their vows to Christianity had been fulfilled, their departure crippled the protecting force which was set up to protect the new Kingdom of Jerusalem. Among those crusaders who relinquished their own desire to return home but instead reside in Jerusalem to serve the ever lasting vow a crusader would make, was Hughes de Payens. As a veteran of the first crusade, he gathered eight of his fellow crusaders and created the first Monastic order who vowed to protect the pilgrims in the holy land. As the order, they offered themselves to the Patriarch of Jerusalem as a Christian military

force there to serve and protect the pilgrims. "The Knights Templar were Soldiers of Christ, ascetic almost to fanaticism, single-minded to the exclusion of all ideas except the worship of God and the annihilation of the Saracens." Officially known as the" Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon" due to their only source of gaining personal amenities was through gifts, which were to be shared throughout the group rather than individually. However, not many gifts or amenities were received which resulted in a rather poor lifestyle in the beginning. The Order was more commonly referred to as The Knights Templar though. King Baldwin II gave the order a headquarters located on the Temple Mount, which was believed to be where the former Temple of Solomon was located, hence the orders more formal name. The glory of The Knights Templar wasn't displayed publicly until 1127, when a church leader Bernard Clairvaux (later granted sainthood) became a power patron to the Templar. Clairvaux wrote a letter to Payne's titled "De Laude Novae Militiae" when translated its known as "In Praise of the New Knighthood." Bernard's letter spread fast, as he portrayed the Templar to be Fearless, Ruthless, and backed by god. "[A Templar Knight] is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armor of faith, just as his body is protected by the armor of steel. He is thus doubly-armed, and need fear

neither demons nor men." Following the spreading of the letter, a huge demand