Knights Templar try to Build Support in Europe
Templar's Future and the Spectre of King Philip IV of France
Sep 18, 2009
Desperate to rebuild support for a new Templar’s Crusade, de Molay spent the next three years meeting with the Pope and the most important European heads of state. These included the royal heads in England, France, Naples and Aragon. Despite the Templars rapidly diminishing standing de Molay did have some degree of success.
Pope Boniface VIII extended some privileges, which the Templars enjoyed in the Holy Land, to Cyprus and a number of tax exemptions and other commercial incentives were forthcoming from European capitals. However there was nothing to suggest support for yet another military and religious adventure in the lands now under Muslim control.
Knights Templar Garrison on Ruad
Although gone from the Levantine mainland the Templars had kept a small garrison on the Island of Ruad, which lay off the Syrian coast close to the city of Tortosa. This last toehold allowed them to mount naval attacks on Muslim garrisons. By 1302 this last futile gesture, and the hopes that went with it, were crushed by a Mamluk army.
Templars Identified With Crusades
Writer James Wasserman says, “The Templars were thoroughly identified with the Crusades. The obvious question of God’s support for the Christian cause pressed more and more heavily on the pious heart as defeat was added to defeat. Disillusionment replaced enthusiasm and praise gave way to blame.”
Since the First Crusade, conditions in Europe had radically changed. Heads of state no longer had the appetite to pay for large scale Crusades, indeed they were now inclined to amalgamate the assets, which many believed were considerable, of the Templars together with the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights, all of which had their roots in the holy city of Jerusalem.
In the year following the fall of Ruad considerable trouble was brewing for the Templars, it came in the shape of King Philip IV of France.
Philip had come to the throne of France at the age of 17 in 1285 and had grown to be the most powerful monarch in Europe. He was in the eyes of his subjects a king appointed by God and as such had a divine right to rule.
Like many European kings of the period, Philip was forever searching for ways to raise the money which would enable him to increase not only his personal wealth but also the power and authority of France.
Knights Templar Doomed
For the Templars the rise of the ambitious, ruthless and greedy French king heralded the darkest period in their long history. In the words of James Wasserman, “The Templars were doomed.”
Readers of this article may be interested to read, The Demise of the Knights Templar in the Holy Land
Source:
James Wasserman, A History of the Knights Templar, Destiny Books 2006
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