January 13:

1128 : Pope recognizes Knights Templar

On this day in 1128, Pope Honorius II grants a papal
sanction to the military order known as the Knights
Templar, declaring it to be an army of God.

Led by the Frenchman Hughes de Payens, the Knights
Templar organization was founded in 1118. Its
self-imposed mission was to protect Christian pilgrims
on their way to the Holy Land during the Crusades, the
series of military expeditions aimed at defeating
Muslims in Palestine. The Templars took their name
from the location of their headquarters, at
Jerusalem's Temple Mount. For a while, the Templars
had only nine members, mostly due to their rigid
rules. In addition to having noble birth, the knights
were required to take strict vows of poverty,
obedience and chastity. In 1127, new promotional
efforts convinced many more noblemen to join the
order, gradually increasing its size and influence.

While the individual knights were not allowed to own
property, there was no such restriction on the
organization as a whole, and over the years many rich
Christians gave gifts of land and other valuables to
support the Knights Templar. By the time the Crusades
ended unsuccessfully in the early 14th century, the
order had grown extremely wealthy, provoking the
jealousy of both religious and secular powers. In
1307, King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V
combined to take down the Knights Templar, arresting
the grand master, Jacques de Molay, on charges of
heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. Under torture, Molay
and other leading Templars confessed and were
eventually burned at the stake. Clement dissolved the
Templars in 1312, assigning their property and
monetary assets to a rival order, the Knights
Hospitalers. In fact, though, Philip and his English
counterpart, King Edward II, claimed most of the
wealth after banning the organization from their
respective countries.

The modern-day Catholic Church has admitted that the
persecution of the Knights Templar was unjustified and
claimed that Pope Clement was pressured by secular
rulers to dissolve the order. Over the centuries,
myths and legends about the Templars have grown,
including the belief that they may have discovered
holy relics at Temple Mount, including the Holy Grail,
the Ark of the Covenant or parts of the cross from
Christ's crucifixion. The imagined secrets of the
Templars have inspired various books and movies,
including the blockbuster novel and film The Da Vinci
Code.

history.com/tdih.do