"... in the Middle Ages, Jerusalem is shown at the centre of the world ... Jerusalem was the site of momentous events that formed the bond between God and man ..."
After the resurrection of Christ, a new religion was beginning to take form: Christianity. These were the ones who believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and centered their beliefs around His teachings. However, many did not accept this belief, including an even newer religion that was about to take form...
History is NOT my strong point, and so I did my absolute best to draw up a simple timeline of the Templar's journey. Below are some of the key dates and events that helped shape the Order into what it was (you are more than welcome to skip to the end):
✝️ Origins of the Order of the Templars ✝️
▪️Jerusalem is seized by the Roman Emperor, Titus, in 70 AD (Romans were pagan during this time)
▪️Jews and Christians are ostracized in the Holy Land
▪️Jews are eventually given some rights back, while Christians continue to be persecuted and executed
▪️in 306, Emperor Constantine rules and converts to Christianity, creating tolerance towards Christians
▪️more officials convert, the rise of popes, intolerance towards Jews and pagans now
▪️in 622, there is the emergence of Prophet Muhammad, who begins conquering in the name of Islam
▪️in 638, Muslims capture Jerusalem, where they have a more harmonious relationship with Jews than Christians
▪️Alexandria falls in 646
▪️in 732, Muslims travel west to France, burning Christian churches, but are pushed back to Spain by the Franks
▪️in 878, they attack Italy and Syracuse falls
"It was the amusement of the Muslims to profane, as well as to pillage, the monasteries and churches. ... on the altar sacrificed every night the virginity of a Christian nun. ... a public denunciation of Muhammad was punished by death ..."
▪️Seljuk Turks defeat Byzantine in 1071, and begin to impose on pilgrims' journey to the Holy Land
▪️spread of Islam influences the First Crusade in 1095
▪️reach Constantinople in 1096, defeat Seljuk Turks
▪️in 1097, the Crusade reaches Antioch and captures it
▪️move onto Jerusalem in 1099, capture and plunder it
✝️ End of First Crusade ✝️
▪️pilgrims are still vulnerable and attacked during their journey to Jerusalem
▪️in 1104, Count Hugh of Champagne arrives with knights
"Godfrey of Saint-Omer proposed the incorporation of a community of knights that would follow the Rule of a religious order but devote themselves to the protection of the pilgrims."
▪️in 1147, Second Crusade is organized, led by two separate forces: King Louis of France and King Conrad of Germany
▪️both are defeated by Seljuk Turks, along with a third force of Franks
✝️ End of Second Crusade ✝️
▪️in 1150, Muslims attack and capture Ascalon
▪️in 1163, Muslims attack Egypt and Antioch
▪️in 1177, Muslims attempt to take Jerusalem but are defeated
▪️in 1182, Templars set out for Mecca to capture Prophet Muhammad's body, breaking a treaty, and are defeated
▪️in 1187, Muslims attack and capture Jerusalem
▪️Third Crusade is led in 1189, and capture Acre in 1191
▪️Richard Lionheart proposes that Jerusalem be ruled jointly by Muslims and Christians; Muslims refuse
▪️in 1192, Templars capture Jerusalem
"The obstacle to agreement ... Richard agreed that Ascalon should be demolished: ... guaranteed the Christians' possession of the coastal cities ... Muslims and Christians were free to traverse ... Christian pilgrims were to be free to visit Jerusalem ... keep the peace for the next five years."
✝️ End of Third Crusade ✝️
▪️in 1203, Templars attack Constantinople, a Christian city, and it is eventually captured in 1204
▪️from 1205 to 1210, Templars take part in conquering Greece as opposed to assisting pilgrims to Jerusalem
▪️they also held a crusade against the Cathars/pagans
✝️ End of Fourth Crusade ✝️
▪️more criticism against Templars comes to light: greed, unnecessary plundering, did kings' bidding, etc.
▪️in 1218, another crusade is underway against Muslims
▪️Templars mount a successful attack on Damietta, but Muslims surround them and cut off their retreat
▪️Templars surrender and abandon Damietta
✝️ End of Fifth Crusade ✝️
▪️in 1227, the Templars depart for the Holy Land
▪️the leader, King Frederick of Hohenstauffen, is excommunicated by Pope, Order becomes divided
▪️in 1229, a treaty is signed between Fredrick and Muslims, returning Jerusalem to Christian rule
"When Frederick entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there was not a bishop or priest to be found. He therefore took up the crown of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and placed it on his own head."
✝️ End of Sixth Crusade ✝️
▪️in 1239, the treaty in Jerusalem expires, and the Pope preaches another crusade
▪️in 1244, Muslims attack and capture Jerusalem
▪️in 1248, King Louis IX embarks for the Holy Land, and captures Damietta
▪️King Louis is captured by Muslims, but eventually released upon bail
▪️the Mongols refuse to aid the Templars, and Louis refortifies Acre before going back to France in 1254
✝️ End of Seventh Crusade ✝️
▪️there are endless Islamic conquests from 1260s to 1290s (Palestine, Nazareth, Galilee, Montfort)
▪️in 1291, Acre falls
" ... the failure of Christ to save the Christians proved that he was a mere man. ... Many Christians drew extreme conclusions and converted to Islam."
▪️in 1300, the Mongols capture Jerusalem, and in 1302, there are plans to take it back
▪️King Philip of France organizes a coup against the Pope and forces him to face trial
▪️in 1306, there are plans for another crusade, but allegations against the Order begin to surface
▪️the French Inquisition takes place, and Templars make false confessions under torture
" ... the Order of the Temple was given over to the worship of the Devil. ... Jesus Christ was a false prophet who had ... been crucified ... as a punishment for His own sins. ... he could have 'carnal relations' with other brothers. ... those that refused were either killed or imprisoned."
✝️ End of the History of the Templars ✝️
Now, there is much to be said for the Templars. It is a classic case of starting with good intentions, only to become corrupted along the way -- again, the original purpose of the Order was to ensure the safety of pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem.
Yet, they received special privileges, did the bidding of popes and kings, plundered cities for their treasures, killed people in the name of God, including other Christians to obtain funds, land, power, etc.
There were many Christians who did not believe in physical violence in order to obtain their objectives. At the same time, what were the Templars to do? The beginnings of Islam proved to have a swift and violent ascension, with very little tolerance for other religions.
Their conquests called others to accept Islam or be killed, and invalidated the beliefs of others. It is common knowledge that Muslims do not accept Jesus as the Son of God, but to even question the validity of Muhammad and one could be killed -- indeed, many people (including Arabs) were.
What is perhaps the most heartbreaking part, is that Islam was grounded in the other religions; Allah is God. However, the only reason that came to be was due to the influence of the early religions. Before Islam, the Arabs lacked a proper sense of identity.
Enter Muhammad: during his caravan days with his uncle, Muhammad began to pick up bits and pieces of Judaism and Christianity. Shortly after this, Muhammad received his first "vision" from the angel Gabriel -- and that was pretty much all she wrote... From that moment on Muhammad was a prophet.
Thus, Muslims began to conquer and convert in the name of Islam. This isn't to say that Christianity did not have its share of problems as well. Again, Templars attacked other Christian nations in order to conquer land, or help kings and popes acquire power. There were many times when innocent Jews and Muslims were slaughtered. Greed became their vice. There were a handful of corrupt popes and Grand Masters, ones who claimed to be Christian but did not act righteously.
This also went for kings. King Philip of France is almost entirely credited with the collapse of the Templars. Such egregious rumors were created in order to discredit the Order, and thus relieve Philip of his debts. It did not help that France also experienced huge inflation at the time, causing the citizens of France to riot. It did not help that Philip saw the Order as a very powerful institution that could diminish his authority.
And so, rumors emerged: that the Templars worshipped Satan, spat on the Cross of Christ, and had homosexual relations with one another. The only confessions that could ever be produced were the ones evoked by torture; no one confessed of their own volition. If we are to believe this, then we must believe that of the tens of thousands of knights, not a single one was a man of God and repented for his sins.
Or, the more believable of the two: the rumors were lies. All of them...
It was very disturbing to read about the Templars demise, and at the hands of a Christian, no less... If it had not been for the Templars, Christianity could never exist as it does today. There were countless times throughout history when the religion -- the followers -- were nearly entirely wiped out. Even today, we continue to enforce the trend: everywhere is expected to tolerate Islam.
As a Canadian who witnesses the active persecution of Christianity, yet the support of Sharia Law, I can't help but wonder if an eighth crusade might ever be revived! 😄
(Source: 