Tags: architecture defense castle england medieval tower siege knights kings barons stone parapet battlement crenellations barbican gate keep
The viewpoint and photo credit to my son.
Not all Templar Knights were holy brothers of the Order. It was possible for men to join for short periods of time and serve as "brothers for a term". Were I truly a knight I would be a Templar in this capacity since I am married and have a beautiful wife to return home to. No oath of chastity for this knight just yet!
From what I understand most men joined the Templar Order in their twenties, but some teens and older men joined as well. Children brought up in an Order's house were not obligated to join when they grew up. Adult men who were capable and willing to fight were who the Order wanted.
There is all kinds of occult mysteria about the Templars swirling with rumors of heresy, sodomy, demon worship, and lost treasure. My knowledge about them is fairly limited. I am not a Templar or Freemason. I would say that most of that stuff makes for a good story but it is complete nonsense.
I would argue that most men who joined the Order did so out of sincere conviction and religious fervor. We may see them as brutal and intolerant, but remember that they were acting according to the beliefs of their time. The idea of a warrior monk is confusing to us nowadays, but made complete sense to people 800 years ago. No doubt these guys were idolized as ultimate heroes by many in medieval Christendom.
Bottom line is this. The King of France was bankrupt in 1307. The Crusades were done after Acre fell in 1291. The original purpose of the Templars protecting pilgrims in the Holy Land had become irrelevant, but they were extremely rich from the efficient banking system they developed. The Pope was weak and easily swayed by King Phillip. Friday October 13, 1307 the Templars are all rounded up and put in prison for two years to be tortured and ultimately burned for heretics.
And the King of France got their treasure. But did he get it all? Hmmm....
Tags: knight reenactment history medieval armor mail sword crusader chain mail surcoat costume thirteenth century cross steel chausses ventail coif hauberk man guy baron noble feudalism templar belt scabbard leather buckle dagger helm soldier through time arms military weapons warfare middle ages banner spear flag
I love that helm! I just got it custom made from the Czech Republic. It's dead on one of the helms seen in the Maciejowski Bible. I am attempting a pose similar to those seen in that manuscript save that I'm not mounted on a horse, more is the pity.
I am interpretting a Hospitaller knight as he may have appeared from approximately 1248 until 1259 AD. The sleeveless surcoat was allowed by the Pope only after 1248 in place of the monastic robe that the brothers at arms wore over their mail until that time. Even then the surcoat was only to be worn in "dangerous areas" where fighting may occur. This one is made of wool and lined in linen.
The mail coif, knee-length hauberk, and chausses are made of wedge-riveted steel links which technically is not period until about 1300 AD. The shield is of the earlier "heater shield" variety and is made of wood covered with leather with a rawhide rim. It is strapped and padded correctly. The great helm is patterned off those seen in the Maciejowski Bible from about 1250 AD.
The sword is an Oakeshott Type XII that I fashioned from the massive Albion Baron, a type XIIa sword of war. The grip is now 4.5 inches long, the blade is 2.1 inches wide at the cross and 33 inches long. After a complete regrinding of the blade the sword now weighs 3 pounds 4 ounces. For a single hand sword it is at the upper end the spectrum for size and weight. Some may say it is too big, but I love it. The balance point is 4.75 inches from the cross. It has just the right amount of blade prescence in my opinion to be a tremendous cutter and still feels good in the hand.
It is up for debate if daggers were worn much with armor in the thirteenth century. They are depicted in use in battle, but not usually on belts until the fourteenth century.
Tags: knight reenactment history medieval armor mail sword crusader chain mail surcoat costume thirteenth century cross steel camp chausses ventail coif mittens mufflers hauberk man guy baron noble feudalism wool hospitaller belt scabbard leather buckle shield dagger maciejowski great helm barrel soldier through time arms military weapons warfare middle ages
Tags: knight reenactment history medieval armor mail sword crusader chain mail surcoat costume thirteenth century cross steel chausses ventail coif hauberk man guy baron noble feudalism wool belt scabbard leather buckle dagger soldier through time arms military weapons warfare middle ages chain thirteenth century camp tent pavilion encampment camping event outdoors historic campaign life entertainment
A knight of the Lorraine in service to King Edward II or perhaps the young King Edward III. The sword I am wearing is an Oakeshott type XVI. Other datable aspects are the separate coif without a ventail worn outside of the surcoat, gamboised cuisses, elbow and knee cops, and greaves (not visible).
This is as a knight may have looked at the onset of the Hundred Years War in the 1330s. Armor would change radically with the rapid addition of plates on the limbs in the next two decades following. The hauberk diminished in size to a thigh-length, three-quarter sleeve haubergon. Also the long surcoat shortened to a jupon.
Incidentally, photo taken by my 11 year old son.
Tags: knight norman sword dagger cross mail hauberk chauses poleyns sash coif surcoat coat of arms england lorraine medieval history chivalry rivetted mail fourteenth century costume scabbard belt