Origin of The Order of the Temple

The origin of the religious and military Order of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon (often referred to as “The Order of the Temple,” Knights Templar,” or simply “the Temple”) was founded by the Frenchman Hughes de Payens in 1118 A.D. Some historians quote it's beginning as 1119 A.D.; others extend this even further back to 1114 A.D.

In 1118 A.D., nine French knights, concerned for the welfare of pilgrims to the Holy Land, bound themselves together in the creation of a Knightly Order, calling themselves in the French, “Pauperes commilitones Christi templique Salomonis,” or the Poor Fellow-Soldiers (or “Knights”) of Christ of the Temple of Solomon. The original objective of the Order was to combine the two functions of monk and knight, protecting Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land from robbers and brigands on the roadways and thoroughfares while on pilgrimage. In contrast to the ordinary religious houses, this community had a special character, for the knights not only took the usual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but added a fourth vow of a decidedly military nature. They were known as “Milites Christi,” or Soldiers of Christ, and took the Blessed Virgin Mary as their patroness.

Today, the Order exist to defend and provide the spread of the Christian Faith, practice charitable humanitarian work, cary on the knighthood's traditions, and to promote the study of history, heraldry, genealogy, philosophy, and religion.