The Wealth of the Knights Templar: They were Relic Hunters and Formed Their own Banking System

At the time of the Crusades, Jerusalem was the most important city of the medieval world. It was the naval centre of the world, a place of religious tolerance where Christian pilgrims enjoyed safe passage. By the eleventh century all this changed and the Crusader wars began.

Knights Templar

Out of the Crusades rose the Knights Templar, formed in 1118 CE. A warrior monk, strong in faith, their job was to protect the pilgrims in Jerusalem. Christian warrior soldiers whose military prowess rivalled the Romans and answerable only to the Pope.

They were famed for their valour and were savage defenders of the faith. News of their victories spread throughout the Christian world and they became heroes. Their numbers increased rapidly as their reputation became legendary and the knights encouraged myths and rumours about themselves.The Abbot of Clairvaux, (the future St Bernard) said of them: "they are strong warriors, monk-like with no dread of death, confident in the sight of the Lord."

Relic Hunters

Almost two centuries later in 1307 CE, this celebrated Christian movement who fought under the cross, were arrested by Philip IV of France, for heresy. The Christian world were in uproar. The kings of Germany, Spain and Portugal all didn't believe the accusations. What was the reason for the arrest?

The Order was incredibly secretive and keen to hide their wealth. On the surface they were an order formed to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. Yet they became an order with many fortresses and castles- a powerbase that rivalled any European monarch.

Relics were regarded as status symbols in the medieval era, they were more collectable than cash or jewels. The relics of most interest to collectors came from the Holy Land. The Templars were famous custodians of relicas, particularly from Jesus' era. The Templar stamp itself was enough to prove the authenticity of a relic.

Part of the mystique that led to the canonisation of Louis IX was the purchase of two major relics- a fragment of the true cross and the crown of thorns-bought when the Templars were at their peak.

The Templars were situated in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount on the southern part where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is, the Mosque was their headquarters. The Temple of Jerusalem and surrounding areas were said to house many relics. Were the Templars digging for relicas under their own base- the Temple Mount?

It is known for a fact the Templars did some building work and there are subterranean tunnels under the Temple Mount. Including the entrance to the ancient Temple of Solomon- this would have been a goldmine to the Templars.

The one relic that is known to have passed through Templar hands is the burial cloth of Jesus- the Shroud of Turin. It appeared in the middle of the thirteenth century with St Louis. The Templars were ideally placed to have brought him the Shroud, they had boats travelling to and from the Holy Land at this time.

The most sought after relic associated with the Templars, was the Holy Grail. The Grail provided a handy smokescreen, while people concerned themselves with grail myths the Templars could continue with what they were doing. They were never obliged to say what they were upto and it was known they were fighting in the East. But they were also really good at making money.

International Banking System

They became a vast, multinational corporation, building churches and castles all over Europe. They also invented international banking and the cheque. Travellers deposited money at one temple and received a note which could then be exchanged for cash at another temple. This was very popular with pilgrims and the fees for this helped make the Templars very wealthy.

Places in the East were supported by businesses in the West, wineries, farms etc. It was the first capitalist system running interconnected businesses. Merchants and royals also donated to the Templars, buying their place in heaven.

The Knights Templar were an incredibly powerful organisation. They had a vast amount of wealth to rival any European monarch. They were a religious order who owned some of the most significant relics of the Christian religion. Both spiritually and financially, the Knights Templar dominated the medieval world.

Dec 22, 2008 6:08 AM

Guest :

what year did this happen?

Dec 22, 2008 6:08 AM

Guest :

put what year this happened!!

Dec 30, 2008 9:51 AM

Guest :

This is NOT correct. The Shroud of Turin is NOT the image of Jesus. It is instead the Image of Jacques DeMolay. The shroud is actually made out of Hearing-Bone Weave. This type of material was not invented until shortly after 400 A.D. There are MANY articles on this now, especially after the shroud was analyzed by scientists and historians. The shroud is estimated to be from 1260-1280. Those who know their Templar history know that after the arrests in 1307, the majority of the brothers were put to death by burnings. A vast number of them were tourchered, however the 2nd master Jacques DeMolay, (First master was Hughes De Payne) was tourchered and kept alive until 1312. He was crucified on a door. It was allowed to be repeatedly opened and slammed shut while he hung upon it. When taken down, barely alive, he was placed back in his Cell. The lack of basic hygiene for almost 5 years and the blood from his crucifixion caused the image of his face to be burned into the Haring-Bone Weave cloth that we know as the Shroud of Turin. He was later put to death by being burned at the stake.
"Carbon dating has conclusively shown that the Shroud of Turin dates from between 1260 and 1380, precisely as we would expect if it were the image of Jacques de Molay. There is no other known theory that fits the scientifically established facts. Through experimentation, we know that the figure on the Shroud was on a soft bed of some kind, which strongly suggests that the victim was not dead and was expected to recover."
The Second Messiah pg. 161 - Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas
http://www.templarhistory.com/shroud.html
http://www.shroudstory.com/glossary/Jacques-deMolay-polemic-Shroud-of-Tur in.htm
The second article is the ACTUAL article from the scientific researchers who performed the tests. All are non-biased and was NOT told what the material they were analyzing was thought to be. None knew that it could have been Jesus or J. DeMolay.
Other than that, for the most part, this was a great article, except the mention of their list of relics. It is not known exactly what relics they possessed. The crown of Thorns is strictly hearsay. No evidence has ever proven otherwise.
Thank you

Jan 19, 2009 10:47 PM

Guest :

If this a De Molay's image, what about the wound in the area of the chest, which matches the description of the piercing wound inflicted on Jesus shortly after His death. Has Jacques de Molay been pierced in his side like Jesus..? I completely doubt.
Second, Jacques de Molay has been wrapped in a linen for 30 hours to allow recovery after being nailed to a wooden door.. The Shroud image could not be formed in that distinct way unless the linen is tightly wrapped around the body and the face. How is Jacques de Molay supposed to breath through a linen covering his face for 30 hours..? while comatosed and completely tortured..? He would die from suffocation and lack of oxygen..
I truely believe that this is NOT a Jacques de Molay image, but rather a Jesus Christ one