Journeys of Relics in Tenth to Twelfth Century Northern France and Flanders

Medieval relic journeys were transformative events that reshaped sacred landscapes and social relationships. The physical act of moving holy objects generated new meanings and permanent sacred sites. How did relic mobility fundamentally alter medieval religious power?

Pre-crusade Muslim religious tolerance to pilgrims in the Holy Land

"Christians in the Holy Land (under Muslim rule, TN) were permitted to practice their religion, and there was no barrier to pilgrims visiting the Holy Places. They had to pay a toll to enter Jerusalem, but they also had to pay a toll to pass through the gates of London or Paris. As for the “Saracen“ rulers of Palestine, they had no problem with the presence of either Orthodox or Latin Christians in their territory, whether as pilgrims or as permanent residents.

Depicting Saracens in the Middle Ages: sometimes more than monsters

"Representations of Saracens as "the others" abound in (...) the earliest manuscripts of the 13th century to the copies of the early 15th century books. These images reinforce stereotypes of Muslims that depict them as barbarians, berserkers, idol worshipping pagans, and nothing less than the enemies of God and mankind. Highly racial and pejorative depictions of these figures highlight their negative qualities through dark skin and distorted facial features.

Medieval Treasure discovered at Cluny Abbey

In a Medievalists.net paper of November 17, 2017 the unearthing of a large treasure at the Abbey of Cluny, France was reported. The precense of Arab world currency illustrates a direct connection between Cluny and the Arab world. The following text quotes parts of the paper.

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.

Diversity and multiculturalism in the medieval world - theory and practise

"The concepts of diversity and multiculturalism seem, in many respects, to be associated with modernity. However, linguistic and religious diversity were facts of everyday life throughout the medieval world. And—very much like today—diversity had its share of proponents and its discontents.

Racial changes in depicting Saracens in the Middle Ages

"How were Saracens depicted from 1200-1420, and what can this tell modern scholars about the way that western artists and audiences viewed and depicted Saracens?  

The great work of Dr Bernadus Theodoor (Ben) Brus - 1917 - 2016

In The Netherlands only a few researchers focus on the Knights Templar and their presence in the Low Countries. One of them was Dr Ben Brus.

In 2017 I found out that Dr Brus passed away in 2016, only a year before his one hundredth birthday, which would have been Saterday, September 30th.

I had the honour to be in contact with Dr Brus for my own research several times. His work, summarized on his website and visually quoted on Templars Now, is the cornerstone of Templar research in The Netherlands and will remain so for many years to come. With great respect I acknowledge his work and vow to continue it as much as I can in my own way.

In 2019 I met with the family of Dr Brus. We agreed that TemplarsNow will continue the work of Dr Brus in a modest way. First step is by simply re-plublishing in English parts of his work on certain and probable sites on TemplarsNow channels. Later on TemplarsNow intends to undertake additional research on Templar sites in the Netherlands indicated by Dr Brus as probable and possible. All this will be done in honor of Dr Brus' monumental work.

Rest in Peace, Dr Ben Brus.

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Financing the Crusades - general taxation

"A "first crude experiment" in compulsory almsgiving, the levy of 1166 begins the history of general taxation for financing the crusades.