The Knights Templar: Who Were They and What did They Do in France? 

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The Knights Templar: Who Were They and What did They Do in France? 

Few historical organisations have captured the public imagination quite like the Knights Templar, particularly in France. But, behind the myths and legends, who were they really?

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Picture yourself walking the cobbled streets of medieval Paris, where towering fortifications of the Temple once cast long shadows across the city. The Knights Templar who lived within those walls left footprints across France that we can still trace today – though their story is far more complex than the legends would have us believe. 

Their formation and early years 

Their tale begins humbly enough in 1119, when a French knight named Hugh de Payens gathered eight other men to protect pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. These weren’t your typical medieval knights – they took monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience whilst simultaneously training as elite warriors. This unusual combination proved remarkably successful. 

Official recognition by Pope Honorius II of the Order of the Temple at the Council of Troyes, François Marius Granet

Endorsed by the Church and supported by influential figures such as King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, the order quickly gained recognition. In 1129, they received papal approval at the Council of Troyes, ensuring their legitimacy and granting them privileges that would facilitate their rapid expansion. Their distinctive emblem—a red cross on a white mantle—became a powerful symbol of their mission and ideals. 

Rise to power in France 

France became the beating heart of Templar power. The order’s ranks swelled with French nobles, and donations poured in from aristocratic families eager to support what they saw as a sacred mission. But the Templars weren’t content merely to fight and pray. They developed what we might now recognise as the first international banking system, allowing medieval travellers to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another – a revolutionary idea that made them indispensable to both merchants and monarchs. 

Their economic influence was unparallelled in medieval Europe. This innovative banking system not only facilitated safer travel but also enriched the order substantially. Their wealth allowed them to fund massive construction projects and military campaigns, further intertwining them with the French aristocracy and Church. 

Templar strongholds and architecture 

Walk through the Marais district of Paris today, and you’d never guess that this fashionable neighbourhood once housed the Templars’ mighty fortress-monastery. The Square du Temple, a peaceful garden, offers no hint of the drama that unfolded here. But venture into the French countryside, and you’ll find more tangible remains of Templar power. 

Square du Temple, Theodor Josef Hubert Hoffbauer

The fortified village of La Couvertoirade in the Languedoc region still stands, its massive walls and austere chapel a testament to the order’s architectural skill. As you wander through its cobbled streets, you can imagine the daily lives of the Templars, who balanced martial readiness with spiritual devotion. In Normandy, the brooding ruins of Gisors Castle continue to fuel whispers of hidden Templar treasure. 

In Provence, the Templar chapel in Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon stands as another example of their craftsmanship. This site, along with others, underscores their strategic placement of commanderies along trade routes and in regions of military significance. 

A dramatic fall 

The Templars’ downfall came with shocking swiftness. On Friday, 13 October 1307 (an unlucky day for many!) King Philip IV of France launched a coordinated strike against the order. The charges were lurid – heresy, blasphemy and devil worship. The real motivation was more mundane: Philip was deeply in debt to the Templars and saw an opportunity to seize their wealth whilst eliminating a power that rivalled his own. 

Jacques de Molay

The last Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, met his end on a small island in the Seine, burned at the stake in view of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Legend says he cursed both King Philip and Pope Clement V from the flames, prophesying their deaths within the year. When both men indeed died shortly after, the Templars’ mystique only grew. 

Legacy and modern-day sites 

Today, traces of the Templars scatter across France like pieces of a puzzle waiting to be assembled. The commanding heights of Château de Chinon, where imprisoned Templars faced interrogation, still dominate the Loire Valley. The preserved chapel and ramparts provide a vivid sense of their architectural and military ingenuity. 

In the Occitanie region, the Commandery of Vaour stands as a testament to the rural operations of the Templars. Surrounded by serene landscapes, it is an ideal spot for visitors seeking to explore the quieter, pastoral side of Templar history. Meanwhile, the Commandery of Coulommiers in the Île-de-France region reveals the extent of their administrative reach, with remnants of its chapel and living quarters still visible. 

The lesser-known Templar chapel at Montsaunès in the Pyrenees offers an intimate look at their architectural style and religious devotion. Each location tells a unique part of the Templar story, adding depth and nuance to their legacy.

Rennes le Château © Krzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons

Rennes-le-Château in Occitanie has become deeply entangled in Templar mythology. The mystery centres around Bérenger Saunière, a humble parish priest who suddenly acquired immense wealth in the 1890s, renovating both the village church and building an elaborate estate. Some theorists claim he discovered lost Templar treasures or documents, pointing to peculiar symbols in his church renovations and the area’s proximity to former Templar lands. The theory suggests the Templars may have hidden their vast wealth in the region before their arrest in 1307. 

Yet perhaps the Templars’ most remarkable achievement is how they continue to capture our imagination. Their brief existence – barely two centuries from foundation to destruction – left an outsized legacy. They pioneered financial innovations we take for granted today, built fortifications that still stand after eight centuries, and created a mystique that has inspired countless books, films, and legends. 

Strip away the myths, though, and you find a story even more fascinating: of men who tried to reconcile the spiritual with the martial, who built a medieval financial empire, and who ultimately discovered that power, no matter how seemingly secure, can vanish overnight.  

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  • Diana Charnok
    2025-01-23 08:38:06
    Diana Charnok
    A frequent glance into the land we love.

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