Financing Chartres 11th century Cathedral - begging for building funds

Popular thought has it that the Knights Templars were "the builders" of the gothic cathedrals such as the one in Chartres, France. As for Chartres, the first building phase of a big cathedral followed the 1020 fire. This is a century before Templar times. If the Templars did not, who did pay for this early building project? A reconstruction.

The Templar Commandery at Alphen, the Netherlands

The Knights Templar held a significant but often overlooked presence in the northern Netherlands. In Brabant they had their commandery at Ter Brake near Alphen. What is known?

Religious life of the Templars in the East

The religious life of the Knights Templar remains an underexplored area of medieval history. This gap in scholarship is primarily due to the order's relatively short existence, the dispersion of its artifacts and documents following its dissolution in the early 14th century, and the dramatic nature of its downfall which often overshadows other aspects of its history. What do we know of their religious life in the East?

Interaction between the monastic Orders and the Papacy in the 12th and 13th century

The 12th and 13th centuries were transformative periods for the papacy, marked by significant administrative reforms, increased political power, and theological developments. How did the development of the monastic Orders interact with this development of the Papacy?

Templar and Hospitaller governance and personnel around the year 1300

The Templar Order is frequently scrutinized for its role and operations, particularly when compared to the Hospitaller Order. What was the internal dynamics of the Templars during the turn of the 13th century, a critical period?

925th Anniversary First Crusade Siege of Jerusalem

The Siege of Jerusalem took place from June 7 to July 15, 1099, during the First Crusade. This successful siege saw the Crusaders take Jerusalem from the Fatimid Caliphate and laid the foundations for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Crusading around 1150 - a "worldwide" coordinated effort

When thinking about crusading in the 12th century, one is usually inclined to consider first the Levant, and perhaps in second place present day Spain and Portugal. However, at the middle of the 12th century there were many more military theatres as well as coordinated efforts to achieve success in several places at the same time. An overview.

4 New maps of Templar sites in Poitou-Charantes, France

Recently TemplarsNow added four new departments in Western France to its collection of Templar site maps. All departments are in the former Poitou-Charantes region. Check out the new maps for Charante, Charante-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne!

Cofraternities and the christianization of combat in the Medieval West

"A considerable number of associations of armed men existed during the central and high Middle Ages, fulfilling diverse purposes, such as the defense of churches or of Christian territory and the fight against heresy, as well as preserving the peace. Founded on a tradition of brotherhood taken from the Gospels, these militias had varying degrees of organization.What is known about them?