Founding of the Knights Templar of Solomon

Those who are soldiers of the temple are of God.

1118 - 1119

Founding of the Knights Templar of Solomon

In 1118–19, 9 nobles of chivalrous rank, pious, religious, and God-fearing, who devoted themselves to the service of Christ, made their vows to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, declaring that they wished to live forever in chastity, obedience, and poverty, according to the rule of regular canons.

The most important were Hugo de Payens and Geoffrey of St. Omer. The other knights were Payen de Montdidier, Archambaud de St. Agnan, Andre de Montbard, Geoffrey Bison, and two men were registered only under the names of Rossal and Gondamer. The ninth knight remained unknown, although some speculated that it was Count Hugh of Champagne himself.

Stay in the temple

Since they had neither a church nor a house, the king of Jerusalem gave them a temporary residence in the palace that stands on the west side of the temple. (Their residence was built nearby next to the ruins of the Temple of Solomon)

The canons of the temple granted them, under certain conditions, the open space around the aforesaid palace for the construction of their necessary buildings, and the king, the nobles, the patriarch, and the bishops gave them, each from his own possessions, land for their support. The patriarch and bishops commanded that for the forgiveness of their sins, their first vow would be to protect the roads and especially the pilgrims from robbers and looters

In gratitude, Geoffrey of Saint Omer swore a promise: The canons would sing forever and incessantly before the Temple of Solomon.