688 testaments
with distinctive round churches. The Templars took the
vows of obedience, CHASTITY, and POVERTY. They were
fanatically and singularly dedicated to war, especially
against Muslims, and soon were engaged in battles for
the defense of the LATINSTATESin the East, making up a
veritable standing defense force. They were disciplined
and efficient fighters and became essential to the sur-
vival of those states.
The number of fighting knights, never more than 300
or 400, was supplemented by light CAVALRY, archers, and
foot soldiers. They built powerful fortresses at Baghras,
Tortosa, Le Fève, and Safed which acquired importance in
the 13th century when the Latins were limited to the
defensive. They also fought in SPAINin the RECONQUEST.
Empowered by copious donations, they became rich and
sent men, war material, provisions, and money to PALES-
TINE. Their wealth and privileges provoked jealously, espe-
cially after the disastrous collapse of the crusading states
with the fall of ACREin 1291. Their link with the papacy
positioned them between the popes and the kingdom of
FRANCEunder PHILIPIV THEFAIR, who accused the Tem-
plars of many crimes, including HERESYand WITCHCRAFT,
and had them arrested in his realm in October of 1307.
This ultimately led to the suppression of the order at the
Council of Vienne in 1312 and the execution of the last
master, JAMESof Molay, in 1314. Their property was con-
fiscated by the Crown and parts of it were distributed to
other orders, especially the HOSPITALLERS.
See also CHIVALRY;CLEMENT V, POPE;CRUSADES;
HATTIN, BATTLE OFHORNS OF;MILITARY ORDERS.
Further reading:J. M. Upton-Ward, trans., The Rule
of the Templars: The French Text of the Rule of the Order of
the Knights Templar(Woodbridge, England: Boydell Press,
2001); Malcolm Barber, The Trial of the Templars(Cam-
bridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978); Malcolm Bar-
ber, The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the
Temple(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994);
Alan Forey, The Military Orders: From the Twelfth to the
Early Fourteenth Century(Toronto: University of Toronto
Press, 1992); Peter Partner, The Murdered Magicians: The
Templars and Their Myth (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1982).testaments SeeWILLS AND TESTAMENTS.Teutonic Knights, Order of(Ordo domus sanctae
Mariae Teutonicorum) The military order of the Teu-
tonic Knights was similar to the other orders but less
concerned with the Holy Land and the CRUSADESin the
Levant. It originated at a hospital at Saint John of ACRE
established by German crusaders. This hospice, reserved
for German pilgrims, was founded by MERCHANTSfrom
LÜBECKand Bremen and linked to the German army of
the duke of SWABIAin 1191. With military intent of the
TEMPLARSand the charitable ones of the HOSPITALLERS,
the hospital of the Germans at Acre led to an order that
was approve by Pope Celestine III (r. 1191–98) in 1196
and confirmed in 1198. Its members and support were
almost exclusively from Germany.GROWTH OF POWER
At the end of the 12th century, however, the Teutonic
Knights had little opportunity to do much in the Holy
Land. The orders of the Templars and Hospitallers had
been established much longer and dominated its defense.
The Germans built the CASTLEof Montfort, where the
grand master had his residence until 1271, did participate
in the last wars of the crusaders. The father of Saint ELIZ-
ABETHof Hungary called them to help defend central
Europe. Between 1211 and 1225, they moved to TRAN-
SYLVANIA to defend against the CUMANS. Elizabeth
founded a hospital at Marburg and gave it to the knights,
who made it their center in Europe. About 1225, they
were asked for assistance against the pagan Prussians
living along the Baltic Sea. The order’s early years
were dominated by the grand master Hermann of Salza
(r. 1209–39). After Hermann alone supported the excom-
municated emperor FREDERICKII during his successful
crusade, in JERUSALEM, the order gained many advan-
tages, rights, donations, and privileges. After Frederick’s
death, however, the order followed a policy independent
of subsequent emperors.
The order initially followed the Rule of the Temple or
Templars and that of the Hospitallers. By 1215 it had
detailed internal regulations. Members were to be nobles
without other obligations older than 14 years of age,
without a wife, debts, or physical handicap. They wore a
white cloak with a black cross. Their daily life consistedA 13th-century Templar chapel on one of their former estates
near Vézelay in central France (Courtesy Edward English)