More History of Our Order
The
Templar
Order
was
established
in
1705
by
the
Duke
of
Orleans
but
declined
by
the
early
1800s,
only
to
be
revitalised
in
1804
under
Napoleon
Bonaparte.
Bernard-
Raymond
Fabré-Palaprat
became
Grand
Master,
though
his leadership was not widely recognised in France.
After
his
death
in
1838,
Sir
William
Sidney
Smith
succeeded
him
until
his
own
passing
in
1858.
The
order
faced
annulment
in
France
in
1892
due
to
scandals,
with
records moved to the National Archives of France.
In
Belgium,
a
"Templar
Secretariat"
was
formed
in
1894
and
evolved
into
another
Templar
organisation
founded
by
the
French
community.
In
1935,
Emile
Clement
Joseph
Isaac
Vandenberg
became
Regent
and
transferred
control
of
the
archives
to
Portugal
during
World War II to protect them from Nazi interests.
Antonio
Campello
de
Souza
Fontes
received
these
archives
but
faced
legitimacy
challenges
after
becoming
Regent.
Following
Antonio's
death
in
1960,
he
named
his
son
Fernando
as
successor
without
an
election
for
Grand
Master, leading to a division within the Order known as the Great Schism.
Despite
this
turmoil,
some
members
remained
loyal
until
Fontes'
death
in
2018.
Today,
under
Grand
Master
His
Excellency
Chevalier
Jacques
Dubos
from
Switzerland,
the
Order
has
numerous
Grand
Priories
worldwide
with
thousands of members.
In
England,
full
membership
is
open
to
Christian
men
and
women
over
eighteen committed to Christian Unity and values while serving the Order.
For
two
centuries,
the
religious-military
Order
of
the
Templars
defended
Christianity
against
threats.
Known
for
establishing
fortified
strongholds
and
victories,
they
were
often
at
the
forefront
of
Crusader
armies,
supported
by
notable figures like King Richard I of England, "the Lionheart."
Celebrated
as
warriors,
they
were
also
respected
for
their
dedication
to
God.
By
the
fourteenth
century,
individual
Templars
lived
modestly
under
St
Bernard
of
Clairvaux's
strict
Rule,
while
the
Order
amassed
significant
power
and
wealth.
This
influence
spread
into
finance
and
commerce,
attracting
envy.
In
1307,
King
Philip
IV
of
France
ordered
the
arrest
of
all
Templars
in
France
on
charges
of
heresy
after
borrowing
heavily
from
them
but
failing
to
repay
his
debts.
Following
persecution
of
Jews
and
seizure
of
their
assets,
he
sought
alleged Templar treasures believed stored in Paris.
News
leaked
about
Philip's
plan
to
arrest
all
Templars
on
Friday
13
October
1307—leading
to
superstition
around
'unlucky'
Friday
the
Thirteenth—prompting
many
to
flee
La
Rochelle
with
a
fleet.
When
authorities
raided
a
suspected
treasury
location
expecting
immense
riches,
they
found
only
empty
rooms
with
some
furniture;
any
treasure had vanished without a trace.
Under
torture,
many
confessed
falsely.
Pope
Clement
V,
pressured
by
Philip
IIII
himself
eventually
disbanded
this
once
mighty
order
entirely by decree in 1312.
The Modern Era
© OSMTH England 2024
OSMTH and the Grand Priory of England is a chivalric non-denominational Christian
organisation whose objects are the Christian values of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
We are not a political organisation, are not associated with any political
organisation and have no political aims or ambitions.
We emphatically denounce all those who seek to besmirch the honourable
reputation of the Knights Templar for any political, subversive or unlawful activity.