TemplarsNow: September 2020

The Templar Rule and the prohibition of chess, or was it dice?...

Chess is a game of Arabic origin, that was well known and appreciated at all medieval courts, Muslim and Christian, in Al Andaluz and beyond. The prohibition of Templars playing chess attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux is not to be found in one of the 76 Primitive Rules designed on the results of the Troyes Council (January 1129). So what are the facts?

Templar history has always been accompanied by myths, including with respect to a masonic link. How to distinguish myths from facts?

For almost the entire duration of its presence in French lands, the Temple enjoyed good relations with royal power. What services did they provide to the wordly rulers?

Templar Key Information

The Rule of St Benedict c. 500 CE, starting point for the rule of the Cistercian Order, which was the monastic mother of the Order of the Knights Templar

Charta Caritatis c. 1119 CE, rule of the Cistercian Order, originally written by Stephan Harding, 3rd abbot of the first Cistercian Abbey at Citeaux, France. The Charter in other languages is to be found here

Primitive Rule of the Knights Templar c. 1129 CE, by Bernard de Clairvaux, abbot of the Cistercian Clairvaux Abbey, France, presented by him at the Council of Troyes, and accepted there after which the Order was officially endorsed by the Church.

In Praise of the New Knighthood c. 1136 CE, by Bernard de Clairvaux, in support of the juvenile Order of the Knights Templar. The complete text of this work (all 13 chapters in French) can be found here

Rule of the Order of St John (Hospitallers) by blessed Raymond de Puy (1120-1160)

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The Templar Rule and the prohibition of chess, or was it dice?...

The masonic Templar link - myths and facts

Knights Templar: council to Kings

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