The International Association of Knights Templar Orders.
(I.A.o.K.T.O.)
Including other Knightly Orders
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The Original Idea
Grand Master Sir Nick Hall KT Presentation Speech.
Vox in Excelso. Malta November 2022
To understand where we are today it is important to have an understanding of the historical circumstances that have led to the present situation. The starting point is the year 1312.
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In 1312 Pope Clement V official issued the Papal Bull that disbanded the Knights Templar Order. Two years later on the 18th March 1314 Jacques de Molay the 23rd Grand Master was burnt at the stake.
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According to most historians this was the end of the Templar legacy that had started with the formation of The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes Commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici) by Hughes de Payens in 1129.
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1129 is also the year when the Templar constitution was originally implemented, greatly influenced by the monastic writings of St Bernard who was a supporter of the Templars. He advised King Baldwin of Jerusalem to agree to give Temple Mount to the Templars as the original headquarters.
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Much speculation as to what happened to the remaining Templars after 1312 has been written in various books. It must be remembered that it was predominantly the Templars in France who were arrested and tortured. Those in England Portugal and other European countries simply either returned to previous life or joined other Orders such as the Hospitaller now favoured by the Papacy.
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With regards to the Templars wealth and other legacies, the Magna Carta 1215 and Temple Church in London are examples of this.
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