The early years of the Order of the Temple - a timeline

The first history of the Templar brotherhood is known as the time that occurs between the Synod of Nablus (1120) until the Council of Troyes (1129), where the Order is definitely created. But what about before? What may have occured during the years 1104 through 1120? A timeline.

These 16 years encompassed the novitiate, youth and the coming of age of the brotherhood, that culimated in their formal recognition as an Order at the Troyes Synod (1129). Considering what is generally known this period can be stratified in six different episodes: 

1. 1104-1107: ideological and embryonic phase, in which the creation of a police force is perceived as necessary. Creative steps are taken under protection of visiting Hugues Count of Champagne, the execution left to Godfrey of Sainte-Omer, 
2. 1107-1114: Formation of the Militia Christi phase, who established with support op King Baldwin I a (network of) police stations guarding the pilgrim roads from the coast to Jerusalem, such as Destroit Castle near Atlit; 
3. 1114-1120: Phase of activation of a more formal brotherhood during and shortly after the second visit of Hugues Count of Champagne and his vasal Hugues de Payns. The latter remained in hte Holy Land when his master went home in 1115. This brotherhood would be based on the existing Augustinian Rule of the Holy Sepulcher, the participants bound only by the a personal oath to follow that Rule of the Holy Sepulcher. About them William of Tyre wrote “the knights wore secular garb, they wore clothing such as all folk wear”. Establishement (provisional at first) at the formally royal Temple Mount buildings. 
4. 1120: confirmation of the brotherhood at the Synod of Nablus and acceptance of it by the King, the barons and the church as a seperate military entity, 
5. 1129: Acceptance by the church at the Council of Troyes and formal creation of the hybrid military monastic Order, unique at the time.
6. 1139: Consolidation of the Order in 1139 by the Papal Bull Omne Datum Optimum

This text is inspired by the paper The first Templar Knight (part 2), the origin of the Temple by Josè Maria Fernandez Nùñez, but additional insights were added by TemplarsNow; The illustration shows the remains of Destroit Castle near Atlit, probably the first "police post" manned by the proto-Tempars, origin illustration www.biblewalks.com,  Fair Use intended 

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