Discover the modern reemergence of the original Templar Order of the founding Knights from 1118 AD, which survived by direct succession since 1307 AD, fully restored to its founding heritage in 2013 AD, practicing and teaching Chivalry as the Templar way of life in the modern world.
The Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple is the direct lineal continuation of the 12th century original historical institution of the founding Knights Templar from 1118 AD. The modern Templar Order has been restored to its original legal legitimacy as a chivalric, nobiliary and ecclesiastical institution, and is continually being restored to the full depth and substance of its ancient and medieval heritage.
The facts of this Restoration, and the historical, doctrinal and legal continuity of the original Order, are presented in full detail throughout these materials. Complete and verifiable evidence is provided publicly, from primary sources, as academic source references, in the extensive numbered footnotes.
The Arthurian legends of the Holy Grail, written by the Templars themselves ((Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe, The Warriors and the Bankers, Lewis Masonic, Surrey, England (2006), pp.56-57.)) ((Frank Sanello, The Knights Templars: God’s Warriors, the Devil’s Bankers, Taylor Trade Publishing, Oxford (2003), p.278.)), preserved the chivalric ideals and esoteric values of the Templar Order, and carried its knightly and priestly reputation as “Warrior Monks” into the present day.
Its popularity in literature and entertainment notwithstanding, the facts of its continued existence are no less real. Just as well-known facts of the historical record prove its accomplishments, a wealth of little-known but verified facts of “lost history” (now “found“) also prove the reality of the survival, restoration and public reemergence of the original Order into the modern era.
Popularly known as the “Knights Templar”, this historic institution profoundly influenced the development of civilization, both by its humanitarian missions, and through its distinctive culture of noble gallantry and scholarship. This is the legendary Order which played a prominent role in leading humanity out of the Middle Ages, and into the Renaissance.
The modern Templar Order is wholly dedicated to actively pursuing the same historical missions to uphold and advance human civilization. Those authentic missions are primarily based upon restoring – and applying – ancient knowledge, sacred wisdom and moral values in society, as the collective heritage of humanity.
Through these continued traditional missions, the essential motivation of the restored Templar Order is to lead humanity out of the Modernist decline of civilization, and into the New Renaissance of freedom, prosperity, human rights and the rule of law.
(Learn about the Foundations of the Order for its restoration.)
The Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple is an Order of Chivalry. It is not a “fraternity” for social status, and is not for “title seekers” collecting honourary certificates. It is not a “business club” for commercial networking or self-promotion, and not a “power club” for political influence or control over others. It is not a “secret society” for promoting philosophies or elitism. It is not a “fan club” for knightly fantasies, and not a “revival group” for anachronistic entertainment. It is not a “haters club” against any other traditional religion or culture.
Grand Mastery Seal of the Knights Templar (1158 AD) “Two Horsemen” Seal
Rather, this restored medieval Order is based on monastic principles, dedicated to humble service in its historical missions of upholding good against evil, as Defenders of All Faith and Guardians of Justice for humanity. All members are required to make it their priority to support the authentic Templar humanitarian missions of the Order itself, and not to use the Order for their own private ambitions.
The 12th century Templar Order was never influenced by any ‘Priory of Sion’ secret society, the claimed “Priory of Sion” medieval origins from Jerusalem parallel to the Templars were disproven by European universities as false “pseudo-history” ((Dominic Selwood, Knights Templar III: Birth of the Order (2013), historian for Daily Telegraph of London, article.)) ((Ed Bradley, The Priory of Sion: Is The ‘Secret Organization’ Fact or Fiction? (27 April 2006), article from “60 Minutes” journalistic exposé, CBS News.)), and the modern “Priory of Sion” revival as a self-styled “Order” was disproven by French police and courts, exposed as a 20th century hoax based on criminal fraud and forgery ((Affaire Pelat: Le Rapport du Judge (8-14 January 1994), Le Point, No.1112, p.11; Philippe Laprevote, Note sur l’Actualite du Prieure de Sion, in Politica Hermetica (1996), No.10, pp.140-151.)) ((Ed Bradley, The Priory of Sion: Is The ‘Secret Organization’ Fact or Fiction? (27 April 2006), article from “60 Minutes” journalistic exposée, CBS News.)).
The Templar Order was never Masonic, and is not involved with the separate traditions of 15th century Freemasonry, a fraternity which correctly does not claim to be a chivalric order, and was founded 330 years after the Knights Templar ((Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe, The Warriors and Bankers, Lewis Masonic, Surrey England (2006), pp.36-37, pp.78-79.)). It was never related to the infamous 18th century secret society of the so-called ‘Bavarian Illuminati’, which was formed a full 660 years after the Templar Order ((Albert G. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Richmond VA, Macoy Publishing (1966), p.474, p.1099.)).
Any and all philosophies of secretive domination, elitist control or bloodline superiority fundamentally violate all genuine doctrines of Templarism, and find no place nor any tolerance within the Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple. Note that inheritance of certain hereditary titles does not imply any superiority over the rest of humanity, and even hereditary status can be revoked for wrongful misconduct ((François Velde, Nobility and Titles in France, Heraldica (1996), updated (2003), “History of Nobility: Acquisition of Nobility”.)).
True Chivalry is egalitarian meritocracy, by Arthurian “Round Table” principles, and categorically excludes any egotism or power dominance for control over others. True Knights and Dames are dedicated to the humble Quest to defend, uplift and inspire others, in the service of God.
The Temple Rule of 1129 AD from Saint Bernard, which remains the founding Charter for the Templar way of life, dedicates the Order to “the love of Justice which constitutes its duties” (Rule 2), requires to punish all wrongdoing “for the love of Justice” to protect the innocent (Rule 47), and commands to “take your rights” only as “specifically established” by law (Rule 57).
It declares that “no person shall be elevated” (Rule 34), that “God holds both the strong and the weak equal” (Rule 38), and mandates that no person “strong or weak, who wishes to promote himself gradually… remain unpunished” (Rule 46).
It commands that all Templars must be “without any arrogance and without any show of pride” (Rule 18), forbids any “pride or arrogance” (Rule 19), and declares that for one committing an offense “to pride himself in it” requires a “harsher punishment” (Rule 46). ((Henri de Curzon, La Règle du Temple, La Société de L’Histoire de France, Paris (1886), in Librairie Renouard, Rules 2, 47, 57, Rules 34, 38, 46, Rules 18, 19, 46.))
Precisely for these reasons, and to remember these core doctrines, all Templars strive to apply the historical Templar motto: “Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini Tuo da gloriam”, from the Old Testament (Psalm 115:1), which translates as “Not to us, not to us, Lord, but to Thy name give glory”.
(Learn about Secret Societies Rejected by Templar core principles.)
Full restoration – and the public reemergence – of the original Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple was the result of nine years of intensive work (2007 – 2016 AD), applying the collective lifetime works of multiple scholars and curators.
The Templar Restoration project was led by a group of Templar Clergy, surviving through an Anglican Franciscan Order, carrying canonical legal succession directly from the original Templar Grand Mastery, supported by Vatican Bishops. These Templar Clergy were assisted by Barristers and international law firms to reestablish sovereignty and strategic infrastructure, and supported by university history faculties to best restore quality of substance of the Order.
Those nine years of modern restoration directly mirrored – indeed even repeated – the first nine years of the founding Templar Knights, restoring the Ancient Priesthood from the Temple of Solomon (1118 – 1127 AD) ((Malcolm Barber & Keith Bate, The Templars: Selected Sources, Manchester University Press (2002), p.2.)), as the foundation of the chivalric Order from its inception. Thus, the Order was restored in precisely the same manner in which it was originally founded.
As an integral part of this meticulous restoration, the Templar Order has fully restored, strictly maintains, and continually teaches, the historical rules and principles which governed the original Knights Templar, including: The Code of Chivalry of 1066 AD, the Temple Rule of 1129 AD, and the Templar Code of 1150 AD.
The Order has also restored and equally upholds the international standards which descended from and embody its own 12th century Templar traditions, including: The Rules of Courtly Dress & Regalia of 1672 AD, the Rules of Courtly Etiquette of 1682 AD, and the Rules of Courtly Titles & Forms of Address of 1769 AD.
As a result, all members of the modern Templar Order are empowered to reclaim the genuine heritage of the original Knights Templar, and to fully experience it as a “living tradition”. This unique resource is provided to all members, as a complete working system for living a genuine lifestyle of Chivalry, which is focused on practical real-world application in the modern era.
(Learn about the Templar Survival Lineage into the modern era.)
(Learn about Templar Legal Succession continuing sovereignty.)
As the legitimate continuation of the historical institution, the modern Templar Order has no concern for mere subjective opinions of what some people think “real” Templars supposedly “would”, “could”, “should”, or “must” have done in the past or do in the present.
‘The Shadow’ by Edmund Blair Leighton (1852-1922 AD), detail
Rather, the exclusive focus of the Order is on the concrete, undeniable evidence in the historical record, which proves what the historical Knights Templar did in fact do, and demonstrates how the genuine Templar way of life of Chivalry actually does directly translate into a practical lifestyle in the modern era.
In this way, the fully restored Order literally “makes history come alive” for all of its active members.
The Roman philosopher and statesman Marcus Cicero (106-43 BC) best expressed this timeless rule: “The first law of history, is not to dare to utter falsehood: The second, is not to fear to speak the Truth.” ((Marcus Tullius Cicero, De Oratore: Ad Quintum Fratrem Libri Tres, Northern Italy (55 BC), in the British Museum; Translated in: J.M. May & J. Wisse, Cicero on the Ideal Orator (De Oratore), Oxford University Press (2001), Book I, Part 2, Section 15.)) ((Saint Michael Academy of Eschatology, The Christian Chivalry: Classification of the Equestrian Orders in History and in Canon and Civil Law, West Palm Beach, Florida (2008), updated (2015), Free Course No.555: “Chivalric Orders”, Lesson 2, Part 3.))
Following that classical adage of Cicero, the legitimacy and heritage possessed by the restored Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple, and its teachings to all members, are not derived from some mere “version” of history. The Order does not rely on any “secrets” of some “oral tradition” of history, and thus does not need to ask people to “believe” in its statements by its own authority.
Rather, the substance of the Templar Order is firmly grounded in documented facts, as preserved in public sources of the historical record.
Proving this truth to the world, all statements and teachings of the Order, which could possibly be questioned as “unknown” or “controversial”, are solidly backed by full and proper academic source references, of authoritative historical documents and scholarly works. This makes the accuracy of all such facts and quotes publicly verifiable from the original sources.
The Old Testament records the immortal words of the Biblical King Solomon: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; … There is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
This was famously paraphrased by William Shakespeare: “There be nothing new, but that which is hath been before… Oh that record could with a backward look, even of five hundred courses of the sun, show… in some antique book” ((William Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Thomas Thorpe, London (1609), Sonnet 59, Lines 5-10.)).
Accordingly, as so eloquently stated by the US President Harry Truman: “The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know.” ((Merle Miller, Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S Truman, 1st Edition, Berkley Publishing Corporation (1974), p.179.))
True to this timeless wisdom, there do exist strong and deep rivers of forgotten history, largely unnoticed by scholars and thus generally unknown to humanity. Such “lost history” then becomes “secrets”, not because it was ever supposed to be hidden as secret, but only because it was left behind.
The New Testament of the Bible condemns the secrets of “men, who withhold the Truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18-20), and declares that “Nothing is covered, that shall not be revealed” (Matthew 10:26-27), and “Nothing is secret… that shall not be known” (Luke 8:17).
Jesus taught by example that the “power” of sacred knowledge must be taught to all who seek and “as many as received” Faith in God (John 1:12). The Apostles taught that it is the will of God for “all men… to come unto knowledge of the Truth.” (I Timothy 2:3-4).
Dutifully fulfilling these Biblical mandates, the modern Templar Order actively recovers and diligently restores key areas of “lost history” from the historical record – now “found”. Through this work, the Order uncovers and reassembles all “secrets” from its rich history – now “revealed”. The Order shares this sacred knowledge openly and publicly, returning it to the world as the collective heritage of humanity.
This knightly work empowers all peoples of the world to reclaim and resurrect the ancient sacred wisdom as the pillars of civilization, to ensure a fulfilling and prosperous future for all of humankind. In this way, living the life of authentic Templar Chivalry is to experience the power of “living history”, and to actively apply it in practice to solve the problems and challenges of the modern world.
(Learn about the Codes of Chivalry for Templar missions.)
(Learn about Modern Templar Missions of the Order.)
Under the Temple Rule of 1129 AD, the Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple continues to serve as Defenders of the Church as Guardians of the origins of Christianity (Rules 1, 2, 8), and strictly operates “according to Canon law” (Rule 9) as a “canonical institution” (Rule 274) ((Henri de Curzon, La Règle du Temple, La Société de L’Histoire de France, Paris (1886), in Librairie Renouard, Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 274.)).
World faith leaders sign Universal Declaration Against Slavery, at the Vatican (02 December 2014). Including Sheikh El Tayeb (front 2nd from left), Grand Master of the Sufi Order in Luxor Egypt.
The same Temple Rule of Saint Bernard which makes the Order Christian as an institution, also made it authentically interfaith and non-denominational for individual membership, while still upholding its Ancient Christian traditions: It specifically includes “Secular Knights”, such that members can be from any religion, or no religion at all (Rules 65-66). One later rule (ca. 1150 AD) encourages Templars to attend religious services only “insofar as he is comfortable with it” (Rule 279). Another later rule (ca. 1250 AD) even allowed Templars to “enter into another religion” and remain in good standing (Rule 630) ((Henri de Curzon, La Règle du Temple, La Société de L’Histoire de France, Paris (1886), in Librairie Renouard, Rules 65, 66, Rule 279, Rule 630.)).
The reasons for this original policy of inclusiveness are: (1) The Ancient Priesthood heritage of the Order embodies the timeless foundations underlying all major spiritual religions, and unifying all Christian denominations; (2) To defend Christianity, it is necessary to defend all religious rights under law, which requires cooperation with all religions; and (3) Additional skills and resources of Secular Knights always strengthened the Order to most effectively defend Christianity.
While the Order actively defends the Church, it is not itself a Church, but rather an Order of Chivalry, which always included “Secular Knights“. The restored Templar Order will not suppress these proven facts of its original interfaith inclusiveness, certainly not for any modern political ideologies.
Accordingly, the Templar Constitution authentically provides that all religious activities are separate from the chivalric side of the Order, and are thus optional for all Templars.
All people of genuine spiritual dedication to any religious tradition, who seek to be inspired and empowered to pursue noble Quests of worthy historical missions, can benefit from joining the Ancient Order of Knights of the Temple.
This experience gives vitality, colour and meaning to life, in the service of humanity, as a defender, disciple and teacher of many millennia of collective human knowledge.
All who seek to experience the authentic heritage of the Templar way of life of Chivalry, whether from any Christian denomination, Ancient religion or Mystic tradition, or any other form of genuine spirituality, are welcomed in the modern Templar Order. Templars are encouraged to choose the style and form of worship of their personal preference, consistent with their preferred culture.
Notice: Templar interfaith cooperation rejects and prohibits the modern “ecumenical” trend of “mixing” and “blending” of religions, and requires strictly preserving the distinct and authentic heritage of each historical tradition separately.
(Learn about Templar Spirituality underlying Chivalry.)
(Learn about the Defenders of the Church role of the Order.)
Discover the Motivations of the restored Order
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