Long before the US Marines were known as the “first to fight,” the Knights Templar had already earned that distinction during the Crusades. Both revered and feared by their allies and enemies, the Templars’ fierce reputation was so legendary that the Arabic historian El-Fadhel even altered the Persian-Arabic word for Templars to that of the demon gods of Zoroastrianism in his writings. Their relentless tenacity on the battlefield made this comparison easy to understand.
SHOCK TROOPS: FIRST TO FIGHT
Every Templar Knight came from noble lineage—a requirement for joining their ranks. Only those who had undergone the lifelong training of secular knights and nobles could hope to be effective in battle as a Templar Knight. These warriors were easily recognized by their white uniforms, emblazoned with the red Templar cross symbolizing martyrdom. However, they were a minority within the Order, comprising only about 10% of its membership. Even at its peak, the Order had no more than 2,000 knights at any given time. On the battlefield, these knights were the primary fighting force, serving as the shock troops of the Crusades alongside other military orders.
The Templar sergeants, also known as serving brothers, filled various roles necessary for the Order’s operations. On the battlefield, they provided support as light cavalry or infantry, wearing black surcoats adorned with the red Templar cross on both the front and back.
Before battle, Templar Knights were organized into squadrons, and once engaged, they were forbidden from breaking formation or charging ahead of their squadron. This strict discipline was essential for military cohesion and reinforced the Templar ideal of humility, where the Order always took precedence over the individual. The only time a Templar Knight could act independently was to save the life of a fellow Templar or a Christian.
The Templars were always among the first to engage the enemy. As the battle trumpet sounded, they would sing the Templar motto (from Psalm 115): “Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da gloriam” (Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name give the glory). Then, they would charge, unleashing devastating force upon the enemy lines, fighting until the enemy was either vanquished or they themselves were slain.
The overwhelming power of a Templar charge often allowed them and their allies to confront numerically superior forces successfully. However, this effectiveness sometimes left little time for support troops to follow, leaving the Knights surrounded by the enemy. Such was the case at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, where the Templars charged Saladin’s army, but the rest of the Frankish forces did not follow. Surrounded, the Templars fell by the hundreds, and those who survived the battle were executed by Saladin’s men. The "Horns of Hattin" became known as the most devastating defeat ever suffered by the Crusaders.
THE BAUCENT
In battle, the Templar banner, known as the Baucent, held great significance. Named after its black and white colors, the black symbolized the darkness of sin that the Templars had left behind, while the white represented the purity of the Order. Sometimes, the banner also bore the red Templar cross, a symbol of martyrdom. Dying in battle for Christ was considered one of the highest honors a Templar could achieve.
The Baucent was guarded by 10 men, and a second folded banner was often brought along in case the first was lost. Under no circumstances could the banner be used as a weapon; doing so would result in the offending knight being placed in irons after the battle.
As long as the Baucent flew, Templar Knights were not allowed to retreat, even if unarmed or wounded. They could only leave the battlefield with their commander’s permission. If the banner fell or they became separated from their comrades, they were to rally to the banner of the Knights Hospitaller, or failing that, to any Christian banner still standing. Only when all Christian banners had fallen could they abandon the fight. Any Templar Knight who deserted the battlefield before this could be expelled from the Order. Only non-fighting sergeant brothers, if they saw there was nothing they could do, were allowed to retreat to save the Order’s equipment from falling into enemy hands.
Even in retreat, the Templars continued to fight, allowing other Christian forces to withdraw. This often led to heavy losses for the Order, but it also earned them a reputation as some of the most steadfast warriors, fighting on against impossible odds even after a battle had turned against them.
The Templars’ courage and endurance on the battlefield earned them both respect and fear from their enemies.
A witness of the Battle of Montgisard in 1177 described how 84 Templar knights, led by their commander Odo de Saint-Amand, forced Saladin to flee and earned his reluctant admiration.
“Spurring all together, as one man, they made a charge, turning neither to the left nor to the right. Recognizing the body of troops in which Saladin commanded many knights, they manfully approached it, immediately penetrated it, incessantly knocked down, scattered, struck, and crushed. Saladin was smitten with admiration, seeing his men dispersed everywhere, everywhere turned in flight, everywhere given to the mouth of the sword. He took thought for his own safety and fled, throwing off his mail shirt for speed, mounted a racing camel, and barely escaped with a few of his men.”
Yet, Saladin also hated the Templars for the immense damage they inflicted on his army. After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, he granted mercy to the Christians left in the city but executed every Templar and Hospitaller he could find.
Both feared and admired, the Templars were a formidable force during the Crusades. When they charged, one could only hope they were on your side.
Sources:
- Barber, Malcolm. The Trial of the Templars. Cambridge University Press, 1978.
- Frale, Barbara. The Templars: The Secret History Revealed. Translated by Gregory Conti, Arcade Publishing, 2009.
- Nicholson, Helen. Knight Templar: 1120-1312. Osprey Publishing, 2004.
- Ralls, Karen. The Templars and the Grail. Quest Books, 2003.
1 comment
MY FAMILY FOUGHT RIGHT NEXT TO THEM , IT IS A PASSION AND A LOVE FOR AND BELIFE IN THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND THE RIGHT OF EVEY MAN AND EVERY COUNTRY TO EXSISIT ..GOD BLESS THE KINGHTS TEMPLER