And whether the treasure? Templars. 12 paintings

July 14, 1099 the Crusaders slaughtered the entire population of Jerusalem, created a new Christian kingdom, and with a sense of accomplishment came back home. To holy places pilgrims reached, in connection with which there was an unexpected problem - they needed someone to protect. The city was under the control of King Baldwin II, but in the vicinity of the robbers rampaged all colors and nationalities. Accidents pilgrims slaughtered on a commercial scale, and everything on it was do not care.





History has preserved their names: Hugh de Payne, Godefroy de Saint Omer Payne de Montdidier, Andre de Montbard, Hugues de Champagne, Gundomar, Gofred Bisol, Geoffrey Bizot and Archambault de Saint-Amand. In 1119 (historians are not sure about the accuracy of that date) were the first two to the court of King Baldwin II and offered their services for the protection of pilgrims on the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem. King did not object to free military aid and gave the Knights the southern wing of the palace (Al-Aqsa Mosque).



Tampliery want to get back to the Vatican all selected, including interest for 700 years. And with an apology. Speak typed 10 ** 8 euros.



The statutes of the Templars was 72 article. The first seven Templars to impose various religious duties: determine how much (13 to 100), and again under any circumstances, should read "Our Father", as in the case of the death of one of the brothers require to feed a poor man in his place for seven days.

The remaining chapters define the everyday life of knights. Eating should be in silence while listening to the reading of Scripture. Meat - twice a week. The tenth part of the bread should be given to the poor. After the evening should also be silent (except for military operations). Women in the Order are not accepted. Kiss "vessels of sin", including mothers, sisters and daughters, it is forbidden. After the death of the Templar, his widow receives a pension.



In 1139 Pope Innocent II took the Knights Templar under the private patronage, issued a bull Omne Datum Optimum, according to which the Templars could remain with all the spoils of war shall be exempt from all taxes, obtained autonomy from the secular authorities and the courts. Bull Milites Templi (1144) lowered the sins of all those who donated to the Order, and therefore the number of people willing to part with money has increased significantly, and the bull Militia Dei (1145), allowed the Templars to build their own church (congregation also means additional revenue) and bury the dead knights on their own cemeteries.

Monarchs of Europe gave the Templars no less generous benefits. Mendicant knights began to receive fabulous profits. Their property is hundreds of castles and huge land (by the end of the 13th century - about one million hectares). They are redeemed at the Kings right to collect taxes, to lend money to a loan at 10% per year (the Jews - under 40%) and organized a system of traveler's checks: now the pilgrims who go to the Holy Land, have made a certain amount of the Templars at their residence and received a check, which can be cashed at the Knights Templar in Jerusalem.

For a hundred years, more than 150 Templars built their own churches. In addition, they are actively building roads and do not charge travel fees (as opposed to the feudal lords, often demanding money even for crossing the bridge). The wealth of the Templars allowed to carry out an unprecedented charity events: they are numerous commanderies fed whole army of the poor, and in lean years the Knights of grain supplied thousands of poor people by preventing the extinction of large regions.

By the late 13th century the Templars debtor has the whole of Europe - from kings to peasants. Mendicant Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon became the world's largest transnational corporation. This Order of the Temple was the richest (the other religious orders possessed comparable resources) and the most influential in the political arena. It was a unique religious and military and financial organization - quickly exalted and well armed.



November 25, 1177 the leper king of Jerusalem Baldwin IV with an army of 500 knights, 80 Templars, led by the Grand Master and a few thousand foot soldiers suddenly attacked the army of Saladin *, there were 26 thousand people. Knights killed almost all Arabs, including the legendary Mamluk. Saladin was saved only because he sat on a thoroughbred "racing" the camel and rode away from the field.
By the early 14th century the Knights reached 20,000 people, the richness of the Order did not give rest to the French king Philip the Fair, who had a big debt to the knights.
How to defeat an organization of thousands of thugs? The King of France, Philip the Fair had an unprecedented police operation, even by today's scale: September 22, 1307 by royal officials, commanders of military units and the inquisitors were sent packages with an indication of their open on Friday 13th of October. The arrest occurred at the same time, the Knights did not have any resistance.



King was waiting for a terrible disappointment - the legendary Templar treasury was empty.
All otrinuvshego burned



The property of the Knights Templar - the numerous castles in France, the Church in England survives to this day. However, until recently, interest in it harbored only historians and dealers in real estate. Fantastic legends about the Order of the Temple appeared only in the 19th century - on the wave of enthusiasm "fashionable" Freemasonry.



Templars enjoyed the patronage of the Pope, who considered them his "fighters" (although the Templars obeyed him any more than any European monarch).



Cokrovischa ishut all and sundry



Cmotrel blogs, Now and for some reason in Latvia looking for.

All I konchel play chess with the Templars



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