Crusades and the Templars

The Crusades were holy wars involving a fight for Jerusalem and its surrounding cities between Islamic and Christian nations. It involved both parties fighting for the area because of its religious ties, and not wanting the other side to occupy such a land. The depositions of the Templars occurred just after the Crusades, which the Templars were heavily involved in. The Battle of Acre (1291) was extremely significant not only for the Crusades by the Templar Order.[1]

The Crusades although bloody and expensive, developed many advances in medieval history. The Order of the Knights Templar were founded in Jerusalem (1120), which then fought relentlessly against Islamic forces for the holy land. In the fight, new nations and soldiers often criticized Templars for living amongst the Muslims. New soldiers often had a shoot first mentality, that evidently wore off with Templars military experience. Even though they aided and lived among these people’s they still justified military expeditions. [2]

Despite Christian values, the Templars still manage to rationalize military missions, killing and destroying Muslim peoples. This justification stems from the development of the “Miles Chrisit” concept. This turned from the idea of spiritual warfare, into the reality that was their material warfare. Basing themselves on St. Augustine, they argued war as a remedy for the sin that plagued their lands, and that they had a duty to protect it from evil-doers. This allowed them to justify warfare, but the Templars were also heavily involved in financial business. [3]

By ~~helix84 (own work; part of Image:Cyriaci.svg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Templars were very financially stable, even lending money to world leaders. The Templars developed the current day concept of credit in their money lending. Although they were soldiers, they were also expert accountants being very smart with their money. Having credit with both French and English kinds, they controlled much of the wealth in Western Europe. Even England used to use the Templars for their royal treasury, and ensuring the safety/travel of their money. Although financially the Templars were prosperous, it ended up being one of their largest criticisms as it went against their roles of poverty in the Order.[4]

Significance: This sheds light onto the context of the Templar involvement in the Crusades. It allows one to understand the justification for warfare, and their financial capabilities that could lead to a theory of their ultimate downfall.

Sources:

1. History.com Staff. “The Crusades.” History.com. 2010. Accessed February 19, 2018. http://www.history.com/topics/crusades.
2. Ibid.
3. Barber, M. C. “The Social Context of the Templars.” Transactions of the Royal Historical Society 34 (1984): 27-46. doi:10.2307/3679124.
4. Ferris, Eleanor. “The Financial Relations of the Knights Templars to the English Crown.” The American Historical Review 8, no. 1 (1902): 1-17. doi:10.2307/1832571.

By: Tanner Delaney