Knights Templar Research Paper

The Making of the Knights Templar “Like going on pilgrimage, to which they were often likened, crusading was an act of Christian love and piety that compensated for and paid the penalties earned by sin” (Richard Abels, par. 1). During the Medieval Time Period, the Christians would take pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem until it became increasingly dangerous as the Muslim Wars of Expansion threated the Holy City of Jerusalem. This sparked the Crusades: a series of Holy Wars where the two religious groups fought for the Holy City. Because of these “Holy Wars”, an elite group called the Knights Templar were created. Nearly a thousand years ago, religions clashed and changed the world in a different way. The Muslims began their War of Expansion. As they claimed new lands, bringing war to new areas, they made their way to Jerusalem, the Holy City. When they took over Jerusalem, they persecuted the Christians who wanted to come to the Holy City on a pilgrimage, or a religious journey. Various religious groups fought for control over …show more content…
Because of their good work they were given a place to stay within the buildings once known as the Temple of Solomon, hence their name. The Order was very small to begin with; there were only nine knights that swore to protect their fellow Christians. Many criticized the Knights’ ways. But that didn’t stop Hugh de Payns, a Knight Templar, went to Europe, campaigning for acceptance. He soon achieved it; in 1128, at the Council of Troyes, Bernard of Clairvaux vouched for them and expressed his support for the Order’s cause. There they were officially recognized by the papacy. This show of support was a huge step for the Templars. Many new troops flooded in from Europe; by 1170, the Order grew to 300, and in 1180 there were 600 in just Jerusalem. Not every Templar recruit fought in the crusades; there were more titles and jobs than just the