Isn’t it time for us to start, as a certain odious figure used to say? national history, famous for advertising Louis Vuitton leather goods? I think it's time!

Hello dears! Here I am, Igor id77 I'm starting a watch on Oleg's blog.

Since time is even earlier (everything in the world is relatively finite, as old Einstein used to say, but still... still...), then first of all, you should cheer yourself up with something like that, from which the soul will first unfold and then curl up into a tube . And I know such a remedy! Honestly! This... (pauses like before the Academy Awards)... a battle cry! Yes, dragechi, you heard right! I suggest everyone urgently move away from their four-legged friends (well, there are chairs, couches, sofas, and not what you are thinking about) slowly and stand up with dignity, clear your throat, take in more air into your lungs and ring out the walls of the room surrounding you with a loud and joyful battle cry. Happened? Have you become more cheerful and cheerful?? That's it! Uncle id77 will not advise anything bad, only stupid things.

Well, now, while colleagues, relatives and friends, and just strangers frantically dial 03 and call orderlies with a straitjacket, we have time to understand a little about what a battle cry is... and what it is eaten with.


They have already left for you


If you believe various dictionaries and reference books (and there is no reason not to believe in this particular issue), then a battle cry is a loud call, cry or exclamation before, after or during a battle with the purpose: a) to encourage comrades in arms, b) to distinguish one's own from strangers, c) to intimidate and (or) humiliate the enemy, d) to create a feeling of unity among all one's own, and e) to turn to the forces from above for support.

When and for which people the war cry first appeared, it is not possible in principle to find out, even if you really, really want to. If only because, in my humble opinion, the first battle cry arose with the first armed conflict between clans or tribes. And the ancient Egyptians had their own cries, and the Greeks and Romans. The most frequently published book in the history of our planet, the Bible, has not ignored this topic. Here's a quick look at Exodus 32:17 - “And Jesus heard the voice of the noise of the people, and said unto Moses, There is a cry of war in the camp.”. In general, you understand, this is an old topic.

It is quite understandable and natural that for each people, ethnic group, group, these battle cries or, as the ancient Irish and Scots would say, slogans, were different.


Is it weak to shout at the Na’vi?

What battle cry first comes to mind is, of course, our domestic “Hurray”. A good cry, short, powerful, generally healthy! But where it came from and what it means exactly is difficult to say. There are several main versions, and everyone can choose the one they like best. Version 1 - the famous Russian cry comes from the Tatar word “ur” - that is, hit. Version 2 - "urrr" is a South Slavic term meaning "let's take over". Version 3 - from the Lithuanian word “virai (vir)” - “husbands, men, boys”...

Version 4 is the Bulgarian term “Urge” - that is, “up, up.” Version 5 - from the Turkic exclamation “Hu Raj”, which can be translated as “In Paradise!” And finally, version 6 - from the Kalmyk “Uralan!” (you probably remember this football club), which translates as “forward”. I like this latest version the best. Somehow it is closer to reality, and it began to be used in Russian troops under Peter, who heard how the irregular Kalmyk cavalry greeted each other and him with this cry.


“Friend of the steppes” (c) Uralan shouts joyfully!

Be that as it may, this combat slogan turned out to be so successful that through the Russian troops the Germans began to use it “hurra!” and the English “hurray”, and the French “hurrah!”, and the Italians “Urra!”

It is clear and natural that the resounding “Hurray!” not the only battle cry in the world. Here are a few more very famous ones:
Allah! (God) - so shouted the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire
Akharay! - (Follow me!) in Hebrew - the battle cry of the ancient Jews
"Bar-rr-ah!" - the cry of the Roman legionnaires, in imitation of the trumpet cry of war elephants
Marga! (kill!) - the battle cry of the Sarmatians
"Montjoie!" and “Saint-Denis” (abbreviated from “Mont-joie Saint-Denis” - “Our defense is Saint Dionysius”) - these were the cries of the Franks
Nobiscum Deus (God is with us!) - this is how the Byzantines shouted
Caelum denique! (At last to heaven!) and “Deus vult” (This is what God wants) were the battle cries of the crusaders.
Beauseant! - the cry of the poor knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, who are usually called the Templars.


Meet Bosseant! No, not a man... that’s what the banner is called

Santiago! (“Saint James is with us”!) - the call of the Spanish caballeros during the Reconquista, as well as the cry of the conquistadors
Alba gu bràth (Scotland forever)! - war cry of Scottish fighters
"Saryn on the kitty!" - the cry of the ushkuiniki
"Rebel yell" was a Confederate battle cry during the American Civil War.
"Forvarts!" - “Forward” - this is how the Prussians and Austrians shouted.
"Alga!" (forward) - the cry of the ancient Kyrgyz, as well as the Kazakhs. There is even a joke when a Kyrgyz is asked how his ancient ancestors (and they were settled throughout Siberia and had great influence and strength) went on the attack? He answers - they shouted “Alga!” Then they ask him - how did they retreat? He thought for a few seconds and said - they turned the horses in the other direction and shouted “Alga!”
"Horrido!" - Luftwaffe experts (named after Saint Horridus, patron saint of pilots).
"Branzulette"! - the cry of the Romanian border guards
"Savoy!" (in honor of the ruling dynasty), the Italians shouted until the end of World War II.


I wonder... did he manage to shout to Horrido!...

All of the above cries have mostly sunk into oblivion and now, if they are used, they are extremely, extremely rare. Unlike those that I will list below:
Allah akbar (God is great) - everything is clear here
Banzai - (10,000 years). An ancient and still used battle cry of the Japanese. Most often they shout “Geika banzai!”, which can literally be translated as “Many years to the emperor!”
The same thing (about 10,000 years) is shouted by the Koreans (both southern and northern), as well as the Chinese. Manse is the cry of the Koreans, Wansui is the cry of the Chinese.
Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali! - (“Glory to the Great Kali, the Gurkhas are coming!”) - the battle cry of one of the most effective and tough units of the British army (and the Indian one too), recruited from the men of the Gurkha tribe living in Nepal
"Viva la France!" - (Long live France!) - this is how the French shouted, are shouting and will continue to shout


The Gurkhas….have come….

Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal" - "Victory belongs to those who repeat the name of the Almighty!" - Sikhs.
Ho-hoy!" - Kurds
"Sigidi!" - Zulu
“Hurra” - that’s how the Finns shout
“On the knife!” - the cry of the Bulgarians
Half-hearted! - (from the Dutch fall - to fall and onder - below) - this is the battle cry of all sailors of the former 1/6th of the land.

The most interesting thing is that the US Army does not have an official battle cry. But some of its units have it. American Seals shout Huu, but the paratroopers “Geronimo!” If everything is clear with the latter - this is the name of the Apache leader, famous for his fearlessness, then with the first, not everything is clear. Most likely, their Hooah comes from the first letters as an answer to the command - heard and understood. By the way, if you are interested in how American special clothes differ from each other, I can advise you to go here here You never know, it will be interesting.


The stern Apache leader Geronimo is watching you...

In general, this is all I wanted to tell you about. I hope you haven't fallen asleep yet reading these lines. And now “attention question” (in the voice of Vladimir Voroshilov). Maybe some battle cries you use in Everyday life, moreover, self-composed and endowed with a special meaning. Share, don't be shy! Also, maybe I missed something, and you know something else from the battle cries of the peoples of the world. I will be waiting for your opinions.

P.S. I’ll go and prepare another topic for now….

The Templars (from the French “templiers” or “temple” - “templars”, “church”, “temple”) were also called the Mendicant Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. They were among the first to form military-religious orders. Thus, the order was founded in 1119 by a small group of knights, led by Hugh de Payns.

This occurred in the wake of the First Crusade, to maintain the new Kingdom of Jerusalem, surrounded by its defeated Muslim neighbors, and to provide security for the many European pilgrims heading to Jerusalem following its conquest. However, it is worth making a distinction between the actual creation of the Templar Order, the beginning of its life and official recognition from the Pope, when it became an independent monastic brotherhood.

A brief history of the spiritual knightly order of the Templars

When the First Crusade (1096-1099), which was supposed to liberate the Holy Land from Muslim supremacy, ended, something like a Christian state was created in the Eastern Mediterranean, which was called the Kingdom of Jerusalem. There were also small state entities, along with Tripoli, Antioch, the Kingdom of Cilicia, the County of Edessa, as well as the Assassins.

These Christian lands were given a name - the Latin East, and the main capital city began to be called Jerusalem.

It was completely natural that European population began to systematically carry out pilgrimages to holy places. However, robbers, robbers, and dashing people roamed all the roads, unceremoniously and unscrupulously engaged in robbing pilgrims, and from time to time, killing them. Thus, the road to the east to visit holy places seemed to be a deadly dangerous undertaking.

Founding of the Templar Order

All this chaos continued for almost twenty years, until one day in 1118 a small detachment with noble knights passed along the dusty Palestinian roads. It was he who began to protect the pilgrims from robbers and all sorts of rabble. They went about their business with all their hearts, not out of fear, but out of conscience. The knights treated robbers mercilessly, and for believers they paved a safe road through holy places.

This small knightly team was led by a man named Hugh de Payns. He came from an ancient French noble dynasty, which at one time served its state faithfully and truly. At the age of fifteen, Hugo was knighted. From that moment on, the young man joined the caste of professional warriors - the French knights. To a young man was lucky enough to become a participant in the crusade and liberation of Jerusalem.

Versions of the origin of the Templar Order

Hugh de Payns did not return home because he decided to stay on the land of Palestine. Having found unmercenaries like himself, he teamed up with them, and together they stood up to protect the wanderers. According to one version, these were nine knights known as nova militia christi, who united in France, where they vowed to protect pilgrims. After this they returned to Palestine.

Many of them were so poor that they did not have enough money even to purchase a sufficient number of horses. Often two riders could sit on one horse. However, this all lasted for about a year, until the court of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem paid attention to the fighting team protecting travelers for free.

The king himself treated the brave knights with favor, and under his patronage they decided to unite into an order. At the same time, they took the oath of allegiance not to the monarch, but to the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We can say that this is exactly how the knights of the temple or templars appeared. On French it was pronounced - Templars. This is exactly how the Order of the Templars appeared in 1119, headed by Hugo de Payns.

Activities of the Templar Order

At first, almost no one knew whether the Order of the Templars existed, but over time its fame began to increase. The noble knights were allowed to go to Europe and recruit people of noble birth into the order. European kings liked the idea. All of them respected the Knights Templar, who, guided only by the call of their hearts, stood up for the pilgrims going to the Holy Land.

A whole series of favors suddenly rained down on the Templars. All this was expressed in the granting of lands and castles to them. Thus, the poor knights became rich in an instant.

The French nobility was particularly generous. The fact is that the Grand Master of the Knights Templar treated their compatriots. Subsequently, they began to formally talk about the order as French. And this despite the fact that in its ranks there were people of very different origins.

Bull of the Pope

In 1139, during the time of the second master Robert de Craon, a bull was issued in the office of Pope Innocent II, in which the knights of the temple were exempted from all existing taxes. They were allowed to freely travel to any Christian countries other than Palestine, buy land, real estate, and conduct business. financial activities aimed at strengthening their society. With all this, the noble knights had to report only to the Pope himself.

As a result, the Templars had complete independence. Their fate was in the hands of only God and the Pope. Heads of state and high-ranking holy fathers were not allowed to become involved in the affairs of the order. Moreover, they were prohibited from ordering what he should do or controlling his financial activities.

Money makes money

Generosity and altruism are, of course, the most beautiful human qualities. However, it was noted a long time ago that money motivates people to increase their wealth, and therefore make money. The Knights Templars could not avoid this either. Being educated people, the intercessors of the pilgrims began to become increasingly involved, first of all, in financial activities. These unlimited rights, together with complete lack of control, had an effect.

The Templars began to borrow money, and thus became moneylenders. They lent huge amounts of money at 10-15%. Whereas for Jews and Italians this service was no less than 40%.

Little by little, the newly minted moneylenders began to have debtors who were kings, dukes, and commoners. The Knights Templar expanded their vigorous financial activities throughout the European continent. The order's treasury began to fill with cash flows. So they began to get rich just before our eyes.

Construction of cathedrals, castles and roads

In addition to banking, the Templars began to build temples and castles. In total, over the entire history of the order, they built 150 cathedrals and 76 castles, which was more than a serious indicator of income. There is a version that in this way they, among other things, invested in real estate.

The Knights Templar were no strangers to road construction. At that time, European roads were in extremely poor condition. Moreover, they were all private.

The situation was aggravated by the robbers who lived in the wooded area. They often engaged in robbery and murder of unarmed people.

The Templars managed to build excellent roads, which were guarded and had inns, but what is most surprising was that they did not take customs fees from the people. All their roads were free and completely safe.

An important factor for the temple knights was charity. Each of them was instructed to meet with the needy three times a week and feed them freely. The charter of the Templar Order obliged this to be done, and all this was carried out unquestioningly.

The rigid hierarchical structure of the Templar Order

The order itself had a rigid hierarchical structure. It was headed by the Grand Master, who had unlimited power. The knights, who were equal partners in the order, numbered approximately a thousand people.

The community was also replenished with chaplains, clergy who performed additional duties. Knightly squires along with servants were considered members of the powerful union. Everyone took a vow of silence. All of them were forbidden to disclose to outsiders about the internal activities of the Templars.

It was secret society with a strict power vertical, independence, your own finances and the ability to manage it all at your own discretion. However, it did not interfere in the affairs of states in which they owned property. There were no persons in the order close to the monarchs. Thus, he had no influence on their policies.

The Order's abandonment of Palestine

The main headquarters of the order was in Jerusalem until the very end of the 13th century. From 1291 the Latin East no longer existed. The Kingdom of Jerusalem, like other small states, was destined to fall. The Muslims managed to regain this territory after almost 200 years.

The knightly order was forced to leave Palestine. He settled permanently in European countries, which were Spain, France, Germany, and also England. As a result, the order was left without its main bastion. Very soon his ill-wishers, who could not survive wealth and power, decided to take advantage of this situation.

Defeat of the Templar Order

The main enemy, the French king Philip the Fair (1268-1314), was haunted by the wealth of the order. He was not a supporter of tyranny and sought to resolve all controversial issues in court. However, due to the fact that he was above the judicial power and completely controlled it, it would not be difficult to foresee whose side the court would be on.

Philip IV also decided to act strictly according to the law with the Templars. The autocrat was too eager to take away all the wealth of the order and use it to replenish the state treasury. However, serious reasons had to be found for this. And they presented themselves in August 1307.

One day the king received a denunciation that a criminal sentenced to death had some kind of important information of national importance. The criminal told the crowned lady about the terrible things that the noble knights did. He happened to sit in the same cell with the same “suicide bomber,” who turned out to be one of the members of the Order of the Templars.

Shortly before the execution, he decided to ease his soul and told about what was happening in their castles. As it turned out, the Knights Templar, using their enormous financial resources, planned to seize power on the European continent. They had debtors from among very influential nobles, so the revolution was a matter of technology. Moreover, the Knights Templar were engaged in seducing boys, spitting on crosses, and also corrupting virgin peasant women. Thus, they were not true Catholics, but servants of Satan.

All this information was carefully documented, and became the reason for Philip the Fair to send an appeal to the Holy See. There were more doubts about the reliability of the prisoner’s testimony; it was unclear how the templar ended up in the royal casemate, moreover, he had a death sentence, because members of the order were not controlled by the monarchs, and they did not have the right to arrest them, much less judge and execute them.

Destruction of the Templar Order

However, Pope Clement V did not care about this essential detail. He hinted to Philip that he would not interfere with him and, in fact, authorized the arrest of all the Templars. As soon as the monarch's hands were untied, he ordered the arrest of all French Templars. It was decided to carry out this top secret action within one day. So on the morning of Friday, October 13, 1307, all members of the order were arrested on French territory.

They were thrown into dungeons, tortured and tormented. The torture of the Templars was so sophisticated that people could not stand it and gave any confession. The Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, also had to make confessions, although he later renounced them.

In total, 543 knights were arrested in France. Philip demanded that European monarchs also arrest the Templars who found themselves in their states, but they did not listen to Philip. Only in England were the Templars exiled to monasteries, but in Scotland, on the contrary, many Templars were lucky enough to take refuge.

Charges brought by the Inquisition

The charges brought by the Inquisition against the Templars were as follows:

  • They bowed to some cat that sometimes appeared at gatherings;
  • In the provinces they possessed one to three-faced idols, actual heads and human skulls;
  • They bowed to these idols at their gatherings;
  • They honored these idols, which were for them representatives of the Lord and Savior;
  • They argued that the head could save them and make them rich;
  • Because of the idols the order received all the wealth;
  • Because of the idols the earth bore fruit and the trees blossomed;
  • They tied the heads of the idols or touched them with short ropes, after which they put them on the body under shirts;
  • When newcomers were accepted into the order, they were given these ropes;
  • Everything was done out of reverence for idols.

Basically there were ten charges, like the ten commandments.

End justifies the means

Investigative measures against members of the order went on for several years. In October 1311, i.e. four years after the arrests, they decided to carry out trial at Vienne Cathedral. At it, the clergy and the Vatican authorities, led by the Pope, decided to dissolve the once powerful order and distribute the property to other knights-monks. These were the Hospitallers, better known as the Knights of Malta.

The biggest jackpot in finance and real estate went to Philip the Beautiful as compensation for legal costs. As a result, he achieved his goals and found what he wanted. Then the trials of the Templars began. Mostly they were sentenced to life sentences. Others received long prison sentences, but only a few were released at an old age.

Execution and damnation of the last Templar Grand Master

Grand Master Jacques de Molay, along with Geoffroy de Charnay, was sentenced to be burned. On March 18, 1314, the sentence was carried out. Engulfed in fire, Jacques de Molay managed to curse the Pope and Philip, which definitely came true.

Clement V died within a month of his execution. King Philip died in November of the same year at the age of forty-six as a result of a massive cerebral hemorrhage (stroke), although the king had always been in excellent health and never had any complaints. Under strange circumstances and unclear reasons, his three sons also died within fourteen years after the death of their father. They were all unlucky enough to leave successors, and the dynasty was destined to end.

Mysteries of the Templar Order

Most people immediately saw the cause of the mysterious deaths in the curse that Jacques de Molay imposed, because the Templars always had a trail of the unknown and mysterious. Popular rumor called them possessors of magical knowledge.

Many even believed that the Templars had the Shroud of Turin and even the Holy Grail. And some researchers admit this, because the knights of the temple had to live in Palestine for almost two hundred years. Their generosity, coupled with their devotion to faith, aroused great respect in the Christian world.

Thanks to this, all those who kept shrines and relics calmly handed them over to the Templars. No one doubted the noble knights. Everyone was confident that the priceless Christian treasures were not destined to be lost, and they would be in good hands.

With the liquidation of the order everything changed. The Holy Grail may have been hidden in Scotland, and the Shroud of Turin was inexplicably discovered in France. The Pope and Philip achieved the abolition of the order, but he continued his life in Europe.

No one excludes that the order secretly continued to exist. Perhaps even now the Knights Templar continue their activities hidden from prying eyes, because all these people possessed secret magical knowledge. Actually, the craving for everything occult, like a magnet, attracts true spiritual seekers, and the courage, selflessness and devotion to the faith of the Templars remained in human hearts.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

You know about these cries, you use them often. Find out where they come from and what they mean.

Bar-rr-ra!!!

The cry of the Roman legionnaires. So they imitated the cry of elephants. The cry was rarely used, mainly to encourage newcomers or on the battlefield with a very weak enemy - to crush him mentally without raising the sword.

“Why elephants?”, a curious reader will ask. This is because the Romans found elephants to be strong and powerful animals. And they also understood: if the enemy is superior in strength and weapons, then “bar-rr-ra!” - like a poultice for the dead.

Source: wikipedia.org

No pasaran!

Well-known cry. But not everyone knows his story. So: imagine 1916, the First World War. German troops clashed with the French at Verdun. Bloody battle. French general Robert Nivelle shouted the phrase “on ne passe pas!” (“No one will pass!”) and rushed to the battlefield to cut down the enemy.

The artist Maurice Louis Henri Newmont heard this phrase and began to actively use it - he painted it on all his propaganda posters. A year later, the phrase “on ne passe pas” became the battle cry of all French soldiers, and then Romanian ones.

In 1936, “they will not pass!” was heard in Madrid - from the lips of the Spanish communist Dolores Ibarruri. On spanish phrase sounds “No pasaran!”. It was Spain that perpetuated the already legendary battle cry. But it sounds slightly different.

“No pasaran!”, by the way, was often thundered during the Second World War, and even in civil wars Central America.


Source: Sonic R System

Allah Akbar!

A painfully familiar Arabic expression meaning “Allah is great.” It had nothing to do with war until the Muslims took up arms and began to die in the name of their god.


Source: Cunoaste lumea

Banzai!

In the 7th - 10th centuries AD, China was ruled by the Tang Dynasty. The local residents greeted each other and especially the emperor with the phrase “wu huang wansui,” which translated meant “may the emperor live for ten thousand years.”

Over the years, only the ending “wansui” remained from the phrase. Then the Japanese came running and borrowed it. But they pronounced it in their own way, it sounded like “banzey”. It meant the wish to “live many years.”

And then the 19th century came, which changed the sound of the word. Now it was “banzai!” And it was used not only in relation to the emperor, but also by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. It was especially popular among kamikazes.


In the history of the Christian world there are historical characters who, through their actions and deeds, were able to make a significant contribution to the development of Western civilization. Such characters, of course, are considered to be the Knights of the Templar Order - members of one of the most powerful political-religious organizations of Medieval Europe.

Despite the rather short period of existence, the activities of the Order have become overgrown with many legends that continue to disturb the community of historians, religious scholars and theologians today. The main questions that interest historical and science community, are as follows:

  • did the Knights Templar really exist?
  • what was the secret knowledge that the Templars possessed;
  • where did the templars get their enormous wealth from;
  • where did the countless treasures of the Order go after its abolition?

Who are the Templars? Where does this movement come from?

The history of the spiritual-knightly order of the Knights of the Temple is closely connected with Christianity, which at the turn of the first and second millennia experienced hard times. Christendom in early Middle Ages was in an extremely disorganized state. After the collapse of Charlemagne's Empire, civil strife reigned in Europe. On the fragments of the once powerful Frankish empire, new kingdoms, duchies and principalities arose, which tried to take leading positions in European and world politics. At this moment, the influence of the church, which previously acted as the cementing material of any monarchy, significantly weakened.

The Catholic Church urgently needed a new idea that would not only restore the influence of the church, but also become a unifying factor for the entire Christian world. Such an initiative was soon found. In 1096, at a church council in Clermont, Pope Urban II proclaimed the idea of ​​liberating Jerusalem and the entire Holy Land from Muslim rule. From this moment in the history of Europe, a new stage of development began, associated with the beginning of Christian expansion.

It was during this period that the Templars appeared on the political arena on a wave of religious enthusiasm. At the same time, other knightly orders - military-political organizations of a religious nature - appeared under the banner of the struggle for the Christian faith. Each of the newly formed orders pursued its own goals, but it was the Templars who secured the glory of the true defenders of the Holy Sepulcher.

The orders that were created were both monastic and knightly, i.e. had religious overtones. However, unlike the Order of St. John (Hospitaliers), which was directly subordinate to the Pope, the new religious-military organization was independent. The knights, united in a religious-knightly congregation, did not obey either the Pope or fall under the influence of secular authorities. The creation of the Templar Order coincides in time with the current events taking place in the First Crusade, which turned out to be the only such event that followed. In the Middle East, the crusaders managed to defeat individual Seljuk detachments, briefly weakening Muslim rule.

Historians attribute the founding of the Templar Order to various historical figures. According to one version, in 1099 Godfrey of Bouillon, who proclaimed himself king of Jerusalem, initiated the creation of a new military-religious organization.

According to another version, the initiative to create a knightly order belongs to the associates of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem - the French knights. In 1118, nine knights, led by Hugh de Payns and Saint Omer, offered their services to the King of Jerusalem to protect the shrines. The first subsequently became master of the order. By the way, these numbers appear in the Charter of the order as the founding date of the brotherhood.

First of all, the emphasis was placed on the military component new organization, since it was necessary to create some kind of royal guard, a powerful and well-trained paramilitary unit. The origin of the new military organization, despite the propaganda of high ideals, is explained by banal needs. Christian shrines in the land of Palestine and thousands of pilgrims needed constant protection not only from Muslims, but also from attacks by robbers and robbers who appeared on these lands with the arrival of Europeans. The new order has become real military force, capable of protecting European gains in the Middle East.

The name that the order received also corresponds to the stated goals. Initially, the knights united into a brotherhood in the name of a high goal - the protection of Christian shrines. King Baldwin II, having accepted the offer of the poor knights, determined the location of the new brotherhood to be the place where Solomon's Temple was supposedly once located. The new spiritual brothers equipped the site of the former Muslim mosque Al-Aqsa its headquarters and barracks. Due to this location, the population of the city quickly dubbed the new brothers templars. As a result, a Europeanized name of the order appeared. The temple is called "temple" in French. Accordingly, the subsequent name of the participants of the new brotherhood follows from this - Knights of the Temple, Templars or Templars.

Officially, the order bore a number of other names, one way or another related to the main mission - the protection of the Holy Sepulcher and other shrines. IN different times and in various places the templars were called the poor knights of Christ or the poor warriors of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. Less frequently heard was the name Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem.

A brief history of the organization of the activities of the Templars

The word “poor” deliberately emphasizes the ascetic lifestyle of the members of the brotherhood, who put service to Christ above earthly goods received during life. This is echoed by the legend surrounding the history of the creation of the order, according to which the founders of the organization were 9 poor knights. The symbol of brotherhood has become an emblem depicting two horsemen riding on one horse, which once again emphasizes the image of the poor champions of Christ.

Some sources claim that the reason for the appearance of such an emblem is more likely to have economic motives. Due to their difficult financial situation, the Templars could not afford to have their own horse. This fact is actively disputed today because knighthood requires the obligatory presence of one’s own horse. Probably the combination with two riders on one horse is a successful advertising trick that the Templars resorted to, deciding to create an aura of asceticism and disdain for material values ​​around themselves.

During the period of persecution of members of the brotherhood, the emblem of the Templar Order was used by opponents of the Templars as evidence of the deadly sin - sodomy, which is the connecting link between members of the brotherhood.

The number of members of the order at the time of its founding was small. The founders included nine French knights who were participants in the first crusade. Their number, along with Hugh de Payns, de Saint-Omer and André de Montbard, included other comrades-in-arms of Godfrey of Bouillon.

As befits any serious organization, its activities were regulated by the charter of the Templar Order, which was adopted in 1128. The text directly states that this document was adopted 9 years after the creation of the brotherhood of knights, i.e. All the previous 9 years the order existed in a semi-legal position. The leading role in the formation of the brotherhood was played by Saint Bernard, the Abbot of Clairvaux, to whom the knights turned for help in organizing the new order. He became interested in the endeavors of the knights who took vows of monasticism. The abbot developed a charter for the brotherhood of warrior monks and took upon himself the troubles before the Pope for the legalization of the new institution.

Among the merits of the Abbot of Clairvaux is the commitment of the templars to wear white capes over their armor with a red eight-pointed cross in the heart area. The white vestments strikingly distinguished the Templars from the knights - monks of the Order of the Hospitallers in black cassocks. The abbot restrained given promise and in 1128, at a council in Troyes, Pope Honorius II announced the formation of the Order of the Knights of Christ and the Temple of Jerusalem. The new monastic and military order was headed by Hugh de Payns, who received the status of Grand Master.

Emphasis should be placed on the existing hierarchy within the Order. The head of the brotherhood (Order) is the Grand Master, followed by the following positions and titles:

  • commander of the Order - he is also the head of a large military unit;
  • priors - the level of governor or commandant of a certain region (territory);
  • officers are mid-level military leaders;
  • sergeants are ordinary members of the order.

Promotion up the career ladder was carried out taking into account military and other merits to the order. Knights formed the basis of the military units and administration of the order. The brotherhood was served by servants and grooms, who performed the functions of squires during campaigns. Within less than 200 years, 23 Grand Masters were elected.

If we talk about the content of the order’s charter, then it more than accurately conveyed the entire organization of the brotherhood from the inside. The usual monastic vows of obedience were based on a commitment to worldly poverty and chastity. It was these two aspects that became the main motto of the templar brotherhood. The charter gave instructions regarding abstinence from earthly goods and excesses. Along with compulsory attendance at Mass, the brothers were required to engage in regular exercise and military training. Meat was allowed to be consumed three times a week, while maintaining purity of spirit and thoughts.

Along with the main provisions set out in the charter of the order, there was an oath that all members of the fraternity took. The main provisions of the knight's oath were as follows:

  • help the poor;
  • at the cost of one’s own life, to help brothers in the order who are in trouble;
  • do not respond to insults and provocations of the knight of the Christian faith;
  • be able to take on three opponents at once.

Violation of this oath was severely punished, including the use of corporal punishment. It should be noted that it was the Knights of the Temple who were considered the most consistent in their beliefs. Thanks to the contribution of Abbot Bernard, the Catholic Church received a powerful military-political instrument into its hands. We can say that Bernard managed to achieve the impossible. Using the militant ardor and enthusiasm of the knights, Bernard was able to channel these qualities into the service of a holy cause. From now on, knights not only fought for honor, but were forced to go into battle out of religious convictions.

The rise and power of the order. Secrets and riddles of the templars

With the continuation of the Crusades, the authority of the knights-monks of the Order of the Temple only grew stronger and intensified. Warriors-templars in white cassocks with a purple cross on the chest took part in all major battles and battles of that time, often marching to the most dangerous areas. Many of them became legendary personalities, going down in history as consistent and brave warriors of Christ. With the end of the Crusades, which ended with the displacement of Christians from Palestine, the activity of the order did not cease. After the loss of the last Christian strongholds in the Middle East in 1291, the Templars settled briefly in Cyprus, where they stayed for less than 20 years.

It was no longer a religious-military brotherhood of poor knights. Over almost a hundred and fifty years of its existence, the order transformed into a huge corporation, where, along with military crafts, other services were provided, including financial and transport services. This led to the fact that the religious-military brotherhood was able to turn into such a powerful and powerful organization. Many historians and theologians associate the power of the Templars with the discoveries that were made by the monks during their stay in the Holy Land. According to some historians, possession of the Ark of the Covenant allowed the Templars to find a way to countless treasures. The sudden appearance at the disposal of the Order of enormous financial resources is the main secret of the Templar Order.

The won and deserved authority that the brotherhood acquired is the main reason that over time the Templars became the most popular monastic order in medieval Europe. This became possible thanks to strict adherence to the hierarchy within the order and the organization of the brotherhood itself. High military skill and valor only enhanced the achieved effect. Almost all French nobility and aristocracy were members of the Order. Many of the secular gentlemen preferred the attire of a simple monk and the ascetic life of a warrior to a rich and prosperous life.

France was not the only European country where the Templars settled. Throughout Europe, the Templars built their castles and fortresses. The influence of the Templars in other countries was great, especially in Spain and Portugal. The Order had political weight in England and the German states. Their financial empire entangled all the royal houses of Europe with its networks. The Templars had the broadest legal and religious powers, which were granted to the order by the popes and sovereigns on whose lands the brotherhood had its own possessions and interests. In the XII-XIII centuries, the Order of the Templars became the envy of many strong of the world this is the main banker in Europe. Material values, huge land holdings and usury were the main factors leading to the subsequent destruction of the Templar Order.

The return of the Templars to France marked the beginning of the end of their dominance as a military, political and financial force medieval Europe. The fact is that, despite the patronage of the Pope, the Order in some aspects exceeded its powers, becoming a state within a state, living by its own laws and often ignoring the interests of the sovereign lord.

Defeat of the Templar Order

Despite the fact that the order had colossal power and influence throughout Europe, this organization had many opponents and enemies. Although initially main goal The establishment of the brotherhood was the military defense of the Christian states created by the crusaders in the East; the order in its subsequent actions went far from this. Having moved to Europe, the knights-monks made their main headquarters in Paris. The order made the French port of La Rochelle, located on the Atlantic Ocean, its main naval base.

Although the Templar empire had a fairly strong position, there were many opponents of the order’s influence in Europe. During its existence, the brotherhood repeatedly fought against conspiracies aimed at attempting to abolish the order or reduce its influence. This trend was especially evident in France, where King Philip the Fair decided to put an end to the powerful organization.

The reasons that prompted the French monarch to begin persecution of the Templars are banal. The French kingdom at the beginning of the 14th century was experiencing deep economic crisis. The royal treasury was empty, and Philip IV had to constantly borrow funds. One of the main sources of funding was the Order. As a result, the royal court's debt to the Templars reached enormous proportions. Destroying the order was the only solution for the French monarch to get rid of creditors. Lacking his own strength to fight directly with the Templars, Philip turned to the Vatican for help. At the Roman catholic church had their own accounts to settle with the templars, and therefore the Roman high priests zealously seized on the idea of ​​putting an end to the rebellious brotherhood once and for all. Despite the fact that the order was officially under the patronage of the Roman Church, Pope Clement V quickly responded to the request French king joint efforts to destroy the order.

The drama began in October 1307, when, by order of the king, the top of the Order, led by Grand Master Jacques de Molay, was arrested. The Parisian castle of the Temple, the main headquarters of the Order, was also captured. The day after the arrests began, Pope Clement V ordered all abbots and bishops in France to begin arresting knights and confiscating the property of the Templars. The repressions launched by the King of France against representatives of the order were supported not only by the Vatican authorities. Many major feudal lords of Europe supported the French monarch and opposed the Templars. The persecution of members of the order in France was the most fierce. Throughout the country, Inquisition trials began over the arrested Templars, which resulted in torture of the Templars and subsequent death sentences.

The main accusation voiced at the trials and brought against the Templars was support of heresy, Satanism and the spread of sodomy. Despite the fact that initially many arrested high-ranking Templars admitted their guilt, the tragedy of the destruction of the order did not end there. In France, the actions of the secular authorities and the Vatican were opposed by many supporters of the order, including in the Vatican itself. The period of persecution and fight against the Templars falls on the years 1307-1314. In 1312, Pope Clement V, with his bull, abolished the Order of the Temple and transferred all its property and powers to the Order of St. John - the Hospitallers.

The last Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, being under investigation and torture for four years, was burned at the stake on March 18, 1314. As a result of the destruction of the Order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem, neither the King of France nor other persons from among the pursuers of the Templars were able to solve great secret brotherhood - where the enormous wealth of the Order came from and where it disappeared.

In one historical (or, more likely, pseudo-historical) article, I once came across a description that a combined detachment of crusader knights, starting to attack a much superior enemy, suddenly sang “Kyrie Eleison” in unison. Became interesting.

After all, “Kyrie Eleison” is now known only as a very humble song and prayer call, very often used in the rites of worship in churches. It comes from the prayers of the blind men of Jericho: “Have mercy on us, Lord.” In Orthodoxy it is short form Jesus Prayer. Vladimir Monomakh especially loved this prayer. In Catholicism, this is usually the first chant of the mass.

However, one must understand that in general knighthood did not represent any single organized force, it did not have a single unifying idea.

But, as an exception, the crusading knights, having a common worldview and ideology, although only within a specific order, had common battle rituals, battle cries and the like. Here are some of the well-known knight's battle cries:

Saint George!, Sometimes White Dragon!  

- "White Dragon!" - the battle cry of the English knights, which somewhat later spread to all English warriors. Caelum denique!

- Paradise is coming! Derived from a common Latin expression. It is believed that it was used by the crusaders regardless of order affiliation. Montjoie! Saint Denis!

- Montjoie! Saint Denis! the cry of the knights and then of all the warriors of the French kingdom Deus vult! - This is God's desire! It is believed that this call originated during the 1st Crusade . Then its modification in the form " Deus lo vult

", became the battle cry of the knights in the Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, which became the main force of the Kingdom of Jerusalem following the conquest. Vive Dieu Saint Amour!

– Glory to God, Holy Love! This is the officially documented battle call of the Templar Order. Gott mit uns!

- God is with us! The most famous battle cry of the Teutonic knights in Russia. Although, most likely, this is more of an order motto than a real military call. Pro Fide!

- For faith! The Knights of the Hospitaller Order (St. John, or also the Order of Malta) used this very cry in battle.