>>>> Knight Templar (1120 - 1312) <<<<

The Templars were men who both determined to follow the religion an prayer  of Christianity, and also to defend Christians  and their property and territory against non-Christians.  In time these men gathered together  and formed what was then known as an “order”  which was first approved of by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and later by the Pope at the Church Council at Troyes in northeast France.  At the height of their involvement in the middle east they occupied the following castles:

--Rouche Roussel; --Darbsaq; --Baghras; --Tortosa; --Safitha; --Sidon; --Vadum Jacob; --Safed; --Castle Pilgrim; --Quarantene; --Gaza.

They were prominent in the following battles:

--Hattin; --Cresson; --Ain Jalot; --Montgisard; -- and La Forble.

Essentially the Templar’s equipment was that as laid down by the Order’s Statute’s of 1165:

 Chain-Mail Shirt (Hauberk)

Long Sleeves (Hauberk slit front and rear to enable riding a horse)

Chain-Mail Hood (Couf)

Flap, “ventaille” (ventilator) which was provided to open or close off the lower face of the couf.  

 Over the Couf was worn a one piece metal helmet with a nose guard;

 Chain-Mail (Chausses) leggings (laced up in the back);

 Chain-Mail shoes and iron spurs;

 Over his armour, the Templar warrior wore a white woolen “Cappa” (robe) with tight-fitting sleeves, no hood, and a red Templar’s Cross on his left breast.  The robe was slit to the crotch both front and back to enable the warrior to ride a horse.

  The warrior carried a curved triangular shield with the Templar black and white insignia.

He carried a heavy sword in a plain leather scabbard and sword belt;

  He also was armed with a long ash-wood lance with a plain iron point;

 He wore under the white wool robe, a padded Jupeau d’ armour (jerkin);

  Finally, under the hauberk he wore woolen breeches, woolen leggings and a white linen shirt.

References:

---- M. Barber, “The New Knighthood, A History of the Order of the Temple,” (Cambridge, 1994);

---- Helen Nicholson, “Templars, Hospitalars, and the Teutonic Knights, Images of the Military Orders, 1128 -1291,” (Leichster, 1993).

Respectfully Submitted;

Marcus Audens 

>>>> Knight Templar (1120 -- 1312) ; Chronology Part #1 <<<<

1095 -- The FIRST CRUSADE is called by Pope Urban II.

1099 -- Jerusalem is captured  by First Crusade, the Kingdom of Jerusalem is established.

c. 1119 -- A group of knights connected to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem found a religious brotherhood to fight Muslim bandits in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

1120 -- The clergy of the Church Council at Nablus agree that the new brotherhood  is a valid religious order and King Baldwin II of Jerusalem gives the brothers his palace in the former Aqsa mosque: “The Temple of Solomon”, so they become “Templars.”

1128 -- Countess Teresa of Portugal promises the Order of Temple the castle of Soure on the Muslim frontier of Portugal.

1129 -- Council of Troyes (in Champagne, France).  The Order of the Temple receives papal approval and the Latin religious rule of the Order is established.

Early 1130’s -- Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux, writes “in praise of the new knighthood” for Hugh de Payns, Master of the Order of the Temple, to encourage the new Order.

1131 -- Count Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona gives the Templars the border stronghold of Granyena.

1134 -- King Alphonso I of Aragon dies , bequeathing his kingdom to the Templars, the Hospitallers and the canons of the Holy Sepulcher.

1136-7 -- The Templars are established in the Amanus March, the frontier area north of Antioch in Syria (now Antakya, Turkey).

>> Reference:

Nicholson, W. Reynolds (Illus.), “Knight Templar (1120 - 1312),” Warrior-91, Osprey Pub. (Great Britain, 2004)

Respectfully Submitted;

Marcus Audens