What is left of the Templars

This is the medieval, Romanesque chapel of the Templar preceptory in Laon (France). The church was constructed in the 12^th C. and is one of the two best preserved Templar churches in France (the second one, later than Laon and based on its architecture, is in Metz). The order of the Templar knights was established in Jerusalem after it was captured by the crusaders and its primary goal was the protection of Christian pilgrims and pilgrimage sites in the Levant. With its goal of support of the newly established kingdom of Jerusalem, the order enjoyed the support of one of the most influential figures of the 12^th C. Europe, Bernard of Clairvaux and soon become a powerful religious, financial and military institution with numerous lands, churches and castles held in Europe as well as the Holy Land. The Templar knights not only defended Christian realms from Muslims and Mongols (in central Europe) but also participated in attacks on Muslim realms in the Middle-East and Iberia. Even though the knights were always portrayed in propaganda as defenders, not attackers, the idea that a devout Christian was allowed to kill, even in self defense, was always controversial in Christianity and, despite the popularity of the military orders, not one of the knights who engaged in warfare was ever elevated to the status of a saint. 

Today, Templar knights frequently feature in the popular culture and are associated with numerous myths and legends, most of which are absurd. To list just a few apart from DaVinci code or Assassin’s Creed, I also read that the Templars discovered America and inscribed the famous Kensington Runestone preserved there to this day, that they travelled to Africa and help construct the massive cathedrals in modern Sudan or that they were in fact atheists or occultists who secretly opposed Catholic church. Another false myth, though more intelligent, is that women were not allowed to enter the Templar Order. This is not true; although it was rare, historical sources mention Templar women and describe that they were admitted into the Order. In fact women are known to even obtain the rank of commanders with male knights under their command (which, perhaps sadly, does not mean that they participated in fighting).

One of the aspects of the Templar history which is rarely mentioned is the religious role o the Templars and their contribution to the development of western monasticism. Traditionally, monasteries were places of prayer where monks could isolate themselves from worldly matters. Thus, they were often located in remote locations that were difficult to access and close to wilderness associated with deserts described in the Bible. The Templar Order broke with that tradition and together with the Hospitallers was among the first monastic institutions established not to isolate its members from secular temptations but to interact with the lay society around it and serve its needs. As a consequence of that shift, Templar houses were frequently found in cities or along major trade and pilgrimage routes. Thus, the establishment of the military orders was a major step in the history of monasticism. The monastic ideas promoted by military orders were soon followed by others and new religious orders and monasteries were established within the Latin medieval cities. The list is quite long, but the most notable examples include mendicant orders; Dominicans and Franciscans as well as Carmelites. Many of these monastic orders still function today and still try to serve the needs of modern society by either providing medical service, or simply by preaching.