Knight Templar's Part IX

  To have a better understanding of the Temples actions when they started gathering intelligence on the intentions of Pope Clement V and King Philippe the fair, their interpretation of this information was confusing at best. The way they responded to it was unusual for an institution of their fierce reputation.

  The order was about 212 years old at his time, just as a comparison the United States is 236 years old in 2012.  The Temple had become a force to be dealt with. It was an elite armed force, the special forces of the middle ages.

  They had become an economic force, they had invented international banking.  They were the bankers of both the English and French crown. They also served most of the Nobel families and families of means in Europe and funded all Six of the Crusades.

  They were very involved in spice and textile production, trade and distribution of fabric, linen, and tapestries throughout Europe and the Holy Land.

  They were the primary shippers of merchandise not only by sea but also by land using their 9,000 properties throughout Europe.

  They were very involved in every level of commerce from small farming, to small business like blacksmith shops to bakeries and meat markets. They of course were also involved with large business and with the government run entities.

  When the warrior monks went to the mattresses in 1307 there was a vast network throughout Europe of Templar controlled properties and businesses for them to blend into.

  They didn't do it over night they did it over time slowly and orderly so that nobody was aware of it. However before this was to take place they had to look like they were conducting business as usual.

   From the various preceptories excursions, frequently with small loads of the Treasury and documents.  A delivery system was developed to transfer assets to the Paris Preceptory and from there on to Flanders to the Cistercian farm at Cambron.

  When I say knights, I am making reference to the whole support system that goes along with each knight.  Seven horses, a sergeant, a vet/ medical person, chaplain, and four to six squires per knight.

  This entourage is frequently referred to as “Gentlemen” of the Temple. Frequently these knights were unaware of their cargo; they didn't have a need to know.

  Flanders and France had been at war from 1297 to 1305; in 1302 France was defeated at the Battle of the Golden Spurs. However two years later they were again under the rule of the French crown.

  At the Peace treaty of Athis, Flanders had won its independence and was to exist as a fief to the crown of France, with the exception of Lillie, Douai, and Bethune which were surrendered to France.

  In 1300 the Count of Flanders Robert de Bethune along with his father Guy de Dampierre who were both Knights of the warrior monks were imprisoned and King Philippe seized the southern portion of Flanders.
 

   They weren't released until 1305 after the Peace treaty of Athis.

  In 1307 on the 26^th of March a very strange occurrence took place.  King Philippe summoned Count Bethume to Tours, the Palace of King Philippe the fair.

  He was advised of the King's plan to persecute and arrest the Templar's on Oct 13^th of that year. He was requested to cooperate in this event, this occurred 6 month's prior to the arrests taking place.

  The count bore a great grudge against the French King bordering on homicidal hatred.

 King Philippe eldest son was not well respected by the King, Prince Louis X le Hutin, who married Marguerite de Bourgogne, while his third son Prince Charles IV, was married to her sister.

  They were both the daughters of Richard II, the duke of Burgundy, and his wife duchess Mahaut d' Artois.

  Philip didn't have any use or respect for these two sons, only his middle son Prince Philippe V le Long was in the graces of the King.  Although he considered these two sons to be fools they were at best Royal fools.

  They had all the privileges of Prince's in the Royal Court and sat on the King's council and kept abreast of the business of state including military action and covert operation well before they happened like the pending arrests of the Templar's.

  Prince Louis X, being a fool, while having pillow talk with his unfaithful wife, relayed the going on of State business. Like the pending arrest of the Templar's. This of course was relayed directly to her mother duchess Mahaut!

 Duchess Mahaut was very involved in the textile and fabric industry, and her bankers, distributors, and shippers were the Templar's.

  When the Flemish Knight gave the signal it was obeyed by every knight except one which was attested to in documents. The bailey of the lower valley of the Rhone was accused of treason along with the hierarchy of the Order by the Flemish Knight.

  The hierarchy of the Temple although aware well in advance of King Philippe intentions, didn't act prudently.  They didn't realize the intentions of their own corrupt Pope.

  They were counting on the rivalry between the Vatican and the crown of France. Perhaps they didn't realize that the King had assassinated the two previous Popes.  Perhaps they didn't realize that Pope Clement V, and the King were boyhood friends.

                       To be continued