The Knights Templar: History Versus Myth

Few organizations in medieval history have inspired as much fascination as the Knights Templar. Warrior monks, crusaders, financiers, and eventually victims of political and religious persecution, the Templars have become legends far beyond their historical reality. I was fascinated by the Order long before we visited the Templar castle in Tomar. To prepare for the visit, I read Michael Haag's well-researched book, The Templars: The History and the Myth. What follows is an exploration of the Order's true history—and an attempt to separate fact from centuries of speculation and legend.The Birth of the TemplarsThe Knights Templar emerged in the aftermath of the First Crusade. Around 1119, a small group of French knights led by Hugues de Payens formed a religious military order dedicated to protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem.King Baldwin II of Jerusalem granted the knights quarters on the Temple Mount, believed to be the site of the ancient Temple of Solomon. From this…