Buzz
Thanks to movies like The Da Vinci Code and, to a smaller extent, National Treasure, the Knights Templar have seen a renewed fascination with their legendary past. This history is a blend of myth and reality, often making it hard to distinguish between the two. As a result, the organization remains a mystery to many even now.
The historical impact of the Knights Templar is unquestionable. For some, their legacy still resonates in modern times. Below are ten fascinating insights into one of the most influential and revered groups in history, whose true story is still being explored today.
10. The Unexpected Twist at the Battle of Bannockburn
During the summer of 1314, a small, weary, and makeshift yet formidable resistance delivered one of the most astonishing defeats to one of England's finest armies. The Scots, outnumbered at least two-to-one (some estimates suggest as high as five-to-one), achieved a victory that, on paper, seemed impossible.
The English were expected to easily overpower the Scots. Despite their recent successes, the Scots were heavily outnumbered and beginning to falter under the strain of continuous battles. However, the clash concluded with the English army fleeing in chaos, with soldiers trampling one another in their desperate attempts to escape.
At the time, only the Knights Templar commanded such fear. Given their ties to Robert the Bruce through the Sinclair family (who had arrived in England and later Scotland from France with William the Conqueror in 1066), it is logical to assume they would assist their ally when needed. Reports suggest that many Templars had migrated to Scotland in the years leading up to the battle, and their involvement proved decisive.
9. Did the Knights Templar Evolve Into the Freemasons?
After King Philip IV of France ordered their arrest, coupled with the various inquisitions of the era, the Knights Templar began seeking refuge in Scotland from 1307 onwards. Scotland was one of the few safe havens available, alongside Portugal. This explains why the Templars had such a significant presence in Scotland during the conflicts between the Scots and England.
After the Battle of Bannockburn, it is believed that Robert the Bruce founded the first Scottish Masonic lodge, which served as a sanctuary for other Knights Templar seeking refuge.
Robert the Bruce was a member of this lodge, effectively making him one of the earliest “Freemasons.” Key members of the Sinclair family, who had fought alongside Robert in pivotal battles before Bannockburn, also joined. The Sinclairs were—and remain—a powerful family. Beyond their involvement with the Masons (and earlier, the Templars), they played a significant role in many enduring mysteries, as we will explore in subsequent entries.
8. Did Henry Sinclair Reach America a Century Before Columbus?
While Christopher Columbus is credited with reaching America in 1492, some claim that Henry Sinclair (grandfather of William Sinclair, the builder of Rosslyn Chapel) arrived in the New World nearly a century earlier, in 1398. He allegedly first landed in Nova Scotia before venturing into what is now New England. (A monument at the purported landing site commemorates Sinclair’s journey.)
Evidence suggests a significant Templar presence in North America as well. Alongside graves and remains believed to belong to documented Templar knights on the US East Coast, the Newport Tower in Rhode Island is often cited as a clear example of Templar architecture. For many, it stands as their unmistakable signature, etched in stone for future generations.
It is believed that Sinclair (and other Templars) knew about the land that would later become the United States, using maps passed down through generations, tracing back to the Library of Alexandria. Some Templar historians suggest that Sinclair aimed to establish a new society where individuals could freely practice any religion and explore science and art without fear of Church persecution. Although he died before realizing this vision, these ideals closely mirror those of the United States' Founding Fathers, who were also linked to Masonic lodges of their era.
7. The Enigma of Oak Island
As the Templars cleared their vaults of treasures upon learning of King Philip’s betrayal, most historians agree that their riches were loaded onto their ships, which then sailed into the Mediterranean and eventually the Atlantic.
Theories about the treasure's final destination vary widely. Some suggest it found safety in Portugal, while others argue it was taken to Scotland. Another belief is that the Templars roamed the seas, keeping their wealth on the move for decades, if not longer. While it could be a combination of these, many are convinced the bulk of the treasure ended up in America, specifically at Oak Island in Nova Scotia.
Despite millions of dollars spent on excavations, nothing of real significance has been discovered on Oak Island. This doesn’t necessarily mean the treasure isn’t there. Intricate drainage traps have baffled all who have tried to access what many believe is a vault filled with riches hidden deep beneath the island.
Another location rumored to hold the treasures of the Templars—or at least clues to their whereabouts—is the next entry on our list.
6. The ‘Clues’ Hidden in Rosslyn Chapel
We’ve previously explored various wild conspiracy theories about Rosslyn Chapel, and while some are far-fetched, the small church in the quaint village of Rosslyn (or Roslin) in Scotland holds genuine mysteries. Many are intrigued by the chapel’s architecture, especially carvings that some believe depict maize (corn), a plant native to America and unknown in Europe until at least 50 years after the chapel was constructed.
This might support the idea that the Templars explored North America well before Columbus. It could also explain why such “messages” and symbols are said to be subtly carved into the stone. And, to be fair, they serve their purpose. Without these carvings of corn, claims of a Templar presence in America might be too easily dismissed.
Another intriguing aspect is the empty spaces beneath the church’s foundations. These areas are unlikely to be excavated due to safety risks. While there’s probably nothing significant there, the fact that they remain unexplored keeps such theories alive.
5. Knowledge of the Planets and Rituals
Though not widely accepted by mainstream historians, researcher and author Jeff Nisbet suggests that the Knights Templar were guided by rituals and esoteric knowledge of astronomy and astrology.
In an article for Atlantis Rising titled “The Mystery Of The Battle Of Bannockburn,” later included in the book Forbidden Religion, Nisbet drew connections between the battle’s events and the positions of constellations and planets at the time.
Nisbet, describing the movement and arrangement of the constellations during this historical period, writes:
At dawn, Taurus the bull appears on the horizon, facing north in a sky too bright to clearly see him. The highest stars of Orion the Hunter have just emerged. Venus, a planet often linked to the pre-Christian Goddess, glows just north of Orion’s weapon, aligned with the bull’s lower horn. The Sun rises in Gemini, the celestial twins, trailed by Jupiter, Mercury, and the Moon. Leo the lion follows, with Mars, the planet of war, positioned below its chest. Orion is accompanied by his two hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, the Big Dog and the Little Dog.
He then explains how this celestial arrangement connects to the day’s events:
First, an event at midday becomes the most memorable moment of the two-day battle: the first bloodshed.
Due to a disagreement among leaders, Edward’s army splits into two large formations as it advances. Earl Gilbert de Clare of Gloucester leads one group, while Earl Humphrey de Bohun of Hereford commands the other.
Roughly fifty yards ahead of Hereford’s column rides his nephew, Henry de Bohun, fully armored on a strong warhorse, spear in hand. Henry spots the Scottish king, armed only with a battle-ax and shield, seated on a small grey horse near the forest’s edge, inspecting his troops. Seeing an opportunity to end the battle before it starts, Henry charges.
He lowers his lance and gallops toward Robert, but Robert is prepared. Just before the lance strikes, Robert sidesteps his horse, rises in his stirrups, and delivers a crushing blow that splits Henry’s helmet, skull, and brain.
This is a neat and compelling story, likely crafted to endure through the ages, as perhaps intended.
While it’s an unconventional theory, considering the Templars’ deep interest in esoteric knowledge, it might not be as far-fetched as it initially seems.
4. They Functioned as Banks (Before Banks Existed)
Despite the Christian prohibition on usury (charging interest on loans), the Knights Templar effectively served as the banks of their time and laid the groundwork for modern banking systems. They frequently provided small loans to individuals and financed the wars and crusades of European royal families. Notably, one of their clients was King Philip IV, who later ordered the arrest and execution of many Templars, likely due to the massive debts he owed them.
As a charitable order committed to poverty, those wishing to join the Templars (and many young men did) often donated money, treasures, or even land. Additionally, numerous supporters contributed to their cause, with donations that, while smaller in scale, were still significant.
This immense and rapidly accumulated wealth, which included treasures from the Crusades and other church-sanctioned missions, was stored in massive vaults in Paris and London. Their financial power also made them the most influential force in any nation where they operated.
3. The Origins of the Jolly Roger
Today, the black flag featuring a skull and crossbones is commonly linked to pirates. However, its connection to the Knights Templar, who originally used this flag, is fascinating and deeply rooted in history.
After being outlawed and hunted by King Philip, the Templar knights (those who didn’t find sanctuary elsewhere) took to the seas. They adopted the skull and crossbones flag as a covert symbol, since they could no longer display their traditional white flag with the red cross. This is where the association with pirates originates. In truth, the Templars, under the Jolly Roger, targeted only Vatican ships and royal vessels hostile to their cause. Essentially, these ships became the unofficial navy of the Templars, a secretive force that may have been responsible for some of the mysterious maps that have surfaced over time.
2. Did They Begin With Just Nine Members?
While some contest this account of the Knights Templar’s origins, it is widely believed that they started with nine founding members, with Hugues de Payens recognized as the primary founder. They pledged their loyalty to Christ (though, as noted earlier, some debate this), and their mission was to safeguard Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. Interestingly, some speculate that the Templars’ true focus was less on the pilgrims and more on the treasures they hoped to uncover at the Temple Mount.
The number nine holds significant esoteric and ancient symbolism, especially if we consider the Templars’ possible interest in mysticism, much like the Freemasons. For instance, the Aztecs revered the Nine Lords of the Night, and the ancient Egyptians believed in the Ennead, a council of nine gods central to the Osiris myth.
1. The Ultimate Secret: The Divinity of John the Baptist
A recurring legend about the Knights Templar is their alleged worship of John the Baptist, whom some claim they regarded as the true divine figure. According to certain researchers, they discovered John’s head beneath the Temple Mount in the 12th century, prompting them to gather their treasures into five large caskets and hastily depart Jerusalem.
Many believe the Knights Templar carried the head of John the Baptist with them, occasionally praying to the macabre relic. According to Templar lore, being near such a sacred object—even a severed head—allowed individuals to absorb its divine energy. Even possessing an item or piece of clothing belonging to a holy figure could achieve the same effect.
An intriguing connection can be made to the secret society Skull and Bones, which counts former US presidents Bush Sr. and Jr. among its members. Beyond the name’s potential Templar ties (which we’ll explore later), rumors suggest they possess the skull of Geronimo and Adolf Hitler’s silverware in their secret headquarters. While there’s no indication they regard these figures as divine, it’s possible they seek to harness the energy of such historically powerful individuals through these grim artifacts.
