Mini Timeline

1114		Count of Champagne travels to the Holy Land
		The Count of Champagne was preparing to travel to the Holy Land when he received a letter from the bishop of Chartres. The letter stated that the count was planning to join 'la milice du Christ' (the original name for the Templars ?). This seems to indicate that the order existed at this time, as the letter speaks of chastity, something not usually expected of a Crusader.
1119		Knights Templar order founded in Jerusalem
		Knights Templar order founded in Jerusalem, by Hugues de Payen.
1125		Hugh of Champagne joins the Templars
		Hugh of Champagne joins the Templars.
1126		Hugues de Payen travels West
		Hugues de Payen travels west to obtain more authority of the Order.
1128 - 1129		Hugues de Payen visits Scotland and England
		During late 1128 and early 1129, Hugues de Payen visited both Scotland (David I ?) and England where he was apparently donated both land and money. At this time, the original Temple in Holborn (London) outside Holborn bars was built. It consisted of gardens, orchard, boundary ditch and cemetary, and was the first round church. In 1161 the site was moved to the New Temple between Fleet street and the Thames.
1138		Cressing Temple Site
		This wealthy manor was given to the Knights Templar by Matilda, wife of King Stephen for their help getting Stephen to the throne. Later, the site was given to the Hospitallers when the Templars were suppressed.
1139		Papal Bull by Pope Innocent II
		A Papal Bull issued by Pope Innocent II, a former Cistercian monk and protege of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, stated that the Knight Templars should owe allegiance to no one other than the Pope himself. This meant that the Templars answered to no one not even Kings or other political or religious authorities.
1146		Knights Templars adopt cross pattee
		The Knights Templars adopted cross pattee; a splayed red cross.
1187	Jul 3	Army of Jerusalem defeated
		The army of Jerusalem was beaten by Turkish forces. Guy of Lusignan was King of Jerusalem at this time. All Knights Templars and Hospitallers who survived the battle were executed afterwards.
1307	Oct 13	Knights Templar are arrested
		King Philippe of France ordered the arrest of all Knight Templars in France. The order to arrest the Templars was sent out several weeks before the date possibly giving the Templars time to hide their wealth.
1314	Mar 18	Jacques de Molay and Geoffroi de Charney burnt at the stake.
		Jacques de Molay and Geoffroi de Charney were burnt at the stake declaring their orthodoxy on an island on the River Seine.