Knights Templar

<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The Knights Templar were the largest and most powerful of the Medieval Christian military orders. They were originally known as The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon.

1 History of the Order
2 Mysteries
3 The Templars and the Freemasons
4 Grand Masters of the Knights Templar (1118 A.D. -1314 A.D.)
5 See Also
6 References

History of the Order

The Templar Order was founded by nine knights in 1118 A.D. who created an order of 'warrior monks.' The Templars were begun in the aftermath of the First Crusade of 1096 A.D. to help the new Kingdom of Jerusalem defend itself against its hostile Muslim neighbors and to ensure the safety of the large numbers of European pilgrims who journeyed to Jerusalem. The Medieval Templar Order was officially ended in 1314 A.D. with the burning at the stake of the last official Grand Master, Jacques de Molay.

Mysteries

There is the mystery as to whether or not the Templars were guilty of the crimes of which they were accused. These included, but were not limited to, worship of the idol Baphomet and desecration of the crucifix. There is the legend that the Templars amassed large of amounts of esoteric knowledge and had mastered mystical practices.

The Templars and the Freemasons

Some historians and authors have tried to draw a link from Freemasonry and its many branches to the Knights Templar, with some Masonic organizations claiming a direct descent from them. John J. Robinson makes a case for the Templar/Freemason connection in his book Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry ISBN 978-0871316028.

Grand Masters of the Knights Templar (1118 A.D. -1314 A.D.)

Hugues de Payens (1118-1136)
Robert de Craon (Robertus Burgundio) (1136-1146)
Everard des Barres (Ebrardus de Barris) (1146-1149)
Bernard de Tremelay (1149-1153)
Andre de Montbard (1153-1156)
Bertrand de Blanchefort (1156-1169)
Philippe de Milly (Philippus de Neapoli/de Nablus) (1169-1171)
Odo (Eudes) de St Amand (Odon de Saint-Chamand) (1171-1179)
Arnaud de Toroge (Arnaldus de Turre Rubea / de Torroja ) (1179-1184)
Gerard de Ridefort (1185-1189)
Robert de Sable (Robertus de Sabloloi) (1191-1193)
Gilbert Horal (Gilbertus Erail / Herail / Arayl / Horal / Roral) (1193-1200)
Phillipe de Plessis Plaissie / Plesse / Plessiez (1201-1208)
Guillaume de Chartres (Willemus de Carnoto) (1209-1219)
Pierre (Pedro) de Montaigu (Petrus de Monteacuto) (1219-1230)
Armand de Perigord (Hermannus Petragoricensis aka Hermann de Pierre-Grosse) (1232-1244)
Richard de Bures (1245-1247)
Guillaume de Sonnac (Guillelmus de Sonayo) (1247-1250)
Renaud de Vichiers (Rainaldus de Vicherio) (1250-1256)
Thomas Berard (1256-1273)
Guillaume de Beaujeu (Guillelmus de Belloico) (1273-1291)
Thibaud Gaudin (Thiband Ggandin) (1291-1292)
Jacques de Molay (1292-1314)