Fictional and Factual Realities of The Knight Templar’s History

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Fictional and Factual Realities of The Knight Templar’s History
Introduction
The medieval times lives up to its reference as the age of discovery. This fascinating period in Europe started with the fall of the Roman Empire lasting from the 5th to the 15th century. Countries had advanced technologically, and they were in the process of constructing stable political governance. The Knights were formed in Israel during this period of transition to protect visitors of the Holy Land during Christmas. The achievements and flaws of the Knights Templar provide a fascinating tale that historians have been researching to make sense of what exactly transpired during the middle ages. Since the events happened centuries ago, some facts lack substantial evidence and are prone to debate. The tales of mighty warriors with superhuman dominance creates an intriguing plot which authors and filmmakers tap into and provide their perspective to the narrative. The films rely mostly on the recorded facts, but some fiction is added for entertainment purposes. This essay tries to compare the events recorded in history and fiction aspects of storytelling in movies and films.
Methodology
The essay contains information obtained from books such as Knights Templar Encyclopedia, Templars: History and Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons, The Last Templar, and The Holy Grail: The Legend, the History, the Evidence.
Findings
The Knight templar one of the most influential and controversial organization contribute to the history of medieval times. Founded in Jerusalem, they comprised of mighty monastic warriors, diplomats, advisors to pope and kings, business and ship owners, and agricultural landowners. CITATION Kar07 \l 1033 (Karen) Wealthy and highly trained, they undertook military operations with vigor and willingness to die a glorious death. The knights who were not allowed to marry or own any property leaving them solely focused and disciplined for combat. At this time, Christians and travelers were being slaughtered while getting to Jerusalem, prompting king Baldwin II to form a monastic order to protect the pilgrims. King Baldwin II set their headquarters at Temple Mount, “that vast platform rising above the city where king Solomon had built his temple two thousand years before.” CITATION Mic10 \l 1033 (Michael)
At first, they depended on charitable donations soliciting these from the church and businesses, and they built an extensive network of people and operations ready to give them handouts. The real victory came in 1139 when the pope granted them papal sanctions, black and white uniforms embedded with a cross to symbolize an army of God. Other benefits accorded to them were not being bound by any law or order except that of the pope, and with that, their jurisdiction expanded. The catalyst to their success was that they were fiercest of warriors, disciplined and obedient they carried out their missions such as guarding castles, kidnappings, raids and assassinations with military precision. Fighting against impossible odds was their forte, and they did so carrying their famous flag with instructions that they would only retreat when the last man wielding it dies.
In the 12th century, everything started falling apart for the Knight templars as Muslim forces, led by Saladin, captured Jerusalem in 1187, weakening their political and military strongholds. Saladin ordered the captured knights to be beheaded to cleanse the land of the orders. The knights subsequently moved to their headquarters to Cyprus and cities like Acres, where they took years to rebuild. In 1303, the Mamluks, slave warriors drove Christians out of the Holy Land, and the templars provided the defense; however, they lost the island and with it, their last base in the Holy Land. The templar's structure was in disarray, and the new pope, Pope Clement V, insisted on the possibility of a merge between the templars and the Hospitallers but King Philip IV of France who owed the templars manipulated the situation in a bid to get out of the debt. King Philip IV urged the church to launch an investigation on practices of the Orders resulting in papal inquisitors confiscating their properties. The templars had accusations leveled against them, such as corruption, involvement in homosexual practices and blasphemy by spitting on the cross. The templars were coerced and tortured for confessions in captivity resulting in them being burned at the stake in France.
The curiosity of what transpired in the medieval times has led historians to come up with researches into the knight templars. The study has inspir...