Did the Knights Templar Invent Banking? What We Know and What Is Just a Story
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The Templars did offer money services. They gave loans to pilgrims going to and from the Holy Land 50. After the fall of Acre in 1291, they moved to Europe 11. There they became the main bankers and lenders to European kings, especially the French 11. Pilgrims could deposit money at one Templar place and get access to their funds at another 43. The Templar system had secure money transfers across regions and written financial records 45. These descriptions come from modern history books, not old medieval papers 80. King Philip IV of France went after the Templars for their economic assets. He also went after the debts the French Crown owed the Order 2. Pope Clement V then decreed that the Templars' properties should go to the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem 8. In Valencia, Templar assets were merged with the Hospital to form Montesa 3. Pope John XXII approved King Denis's new order, the Christi Militia, in 1319 17. Italy has its own known banking landmark: the Banco di San Giorgio in Genoa, founded in 1407 71. The checked sources do not show that the Templars invented modern banking. The document does not describe a banking role for them 77.
1139: The Pope Protects the Knights
The bull stopped church leaders and regular people from making the Order's master and brothers swear oaths or make promises of loyalty 5556. Rulers of lands often asked for these things. It also said no one could force the Order to pay payments against its will 5758. But it said the Order could collect payments from clergy and regular people, with the advice and consent of bishops 5960.
The bull says no one may ask the Order's master and brothers for promises of loyalty or other promises 55. It also says no one may take money from the Order's belongings if the Order does not want that 57. A different money story is in the record. In 1188, a Templar named Gilbert de Ogrestan was accused of misusing Saladin's money. The master of that time punished him hard 62. This is the only such story the page talks about. It does not come from the bull's words 62.
Pilgrims, Money Changers and Old English Papers
Money changers in the Middle Ages took in foreign coins as deposits 40. They checked each coin and wrote down its value in local money. A merchant could take the money out, or leave it there 40. When their business grew, the changers started to offer loans 49. They built the loan fees into their exchange rates 49. Later, the Knights Templar gave loans to pilgrims traveling to and from the Holy Land 38.
The Templars later gave this loan service to pilgrims who traveled to and from the Holy Land 50. The document does not say what legal form these loans took. Pilgrims could put money in at one Templar place and take it out at another 43. This meant they did not have to carry a lot of gold 43. An abstract lists current accounts, bill-of-exchange and cheque circulation, and money transfers as new Templar money tools 41. It describes them in modern Russian words, not in medieval Latin or local language words 41.
English records also mention the Templars. In the 4th year of Richard I, Margaret de Perc gave the town of Rokesby to the Knights Templars in the King's Court. The Barons of the Exchequer were there. So the Exchequer wrote down this Templar land deal 53. King Henry III's document, dated 9 February in the eleventh year of his reign, confirmed to the Templars all the gifts from the kings before him and from other givers 46. Addison also lists the document's freedom from hidage, carucage, danegeld and hornegeld 47.
1291 to 1307: Helping Kings with Money
After Acre fell in 1291, the Templars moved to Europe. They became the main bankers and lenders to European kings and queens, especially the French 11. Rulers sometimes borrowed money from them, and the Templars became money advisors to rulers 44. The French crown went after the Templars for their wealth and for the debts it owed the Order 2.
1307 to 1319: Who Got Their Lands?
In England, royal officials sold almost all the produce from the Templar estates after January 1308. They kept back only what farm workers needed: food, part of their pay in grain, and feed for the animals 30. Lists of chapel items cover 55 chapels and churches. Of these, 31 belonged to homes where at least one Templar lived 31. People who said they had income from Templar lands made claims. These records are kept at The National Archives, E 142/9 29. On Cyprus, the Templars' property and treasure were taken when they gave up in June 1308. They were not hidden 68. After the order ended, Cypriot leaders kept the treasure and movable goods to pay the high costs of the trials 70.
Popes changed who got the Templars' property, on paper. On 22 March 1312, the Pope's order Vox in excelso ended the Order 9. Then the order Ad providam gave its property to the Hospital Order 9. On 3 April 1312, Clement V ordered all Templar property to go to the Order of St. John and other military orders 10. In Portugal, the Pope wanted Templar property to go to the Hospitallers. King Dinis said no 16. On 14 March 1319, Pope John XXII approved King Dinis's new order, the Christi Militia, through Ad ea ex quibus 17. The Portuguese Templars became the Order of Christ 20. In Valencia, Templar property was joined with the Order of the Hospital to make a new order called Montesa 3. Pope John XXII confirmed Montesa in 1317 and gave it the Cistercian rule 4.
Heirs, Genoa and How a Legend Grew
Some Templar duties passed to other groups. In the 1320s, the Hospitallers said they were not getting their yearly payments from sheriffs and towns. This suggests they had taken over some money duties or rights that the Templars used to have 5. Templar rights in towns, like control over who could enter, leave, and move property, could last after the Order was ended 6. In 1312, the Castillo de la Magione passed to the Hospitallers. They kept it until 1752 1213. In 1866, the Corsini family sold the church and other buildings. They kept the right to use them 14.
Genoa has another bank story. The Banco di San Giorgio began as the 'Casa delle compere e dei banchi di San Giorgio'. It was founded in 1407 71. Genoa started ruling Corsica in 1284, after the Battle of Meloria 76. From 1453 to 1562, the Banco ran the island 73. The article calls this one of the most important parts of that time 78. Sea republics like Venice, Genoa and Pisa grew their trade across the Mediterranean 72. A source says letters of exchange were used in earlier centuries 35. It says religious orders of knights used them 35. It does not name the Templars 35.
The study of how the Templars handled money began in 1889 79. One claim is not supported. Historical evidence does not securely show that a secret Templar fleet carrying the order's treasure escaped from La Rochelle just before the arrests 63. Another claim is also unsupported. There is no reliable evidence from that time that a secret Templar force fought at the Battle of Bannockburn 67. The Portugal link is about institutions. The Order of Christ inherited Templar property, and later Prince Henry the Navigator became its governor 69. But the claim that Templars secretly became Portuguese explorers is not established 69.
Where Things Stand Now (October 2026)
Travelers could leave money at one Templar place. Then they could get it at another place. So they did not have to carry big piles of gold 43. The Templars had safe ways to move money between regions. They kept written money records. They also had money offices in different countries 45. The Templars gave money advice to rulers in Europe. Some rulers borrowed money from them 44.
So where does the claim stand? The Templars gave loans to pilgrims. These pilgrims were traveling to and from the Holy Land. 50 The document does not say what kind of loans they were. 50 In 1291, Acre fell. The Templars moved to Europe. 11 There, they became the main bankers and lenders to European kings and rulers, especially the French. 11 A Middle Ages text checked here does not mention any banking for the Templars. 77 It says they were a military religious order. 77 They played a key role in the crusader states. 77 The checked evidence does not show a link to later money practice. 35 Another source says these money notes were used in earlier centuries. 35 It mentions religious orders of knights who used them. 35 That source does not name the Templars, Acre, Tyre, or pilgrim deposits. 35
Still unknown
How much of the Templars' pilgrim lending and deposit business can be traced in their own account books? The checked evidence leans on popular and secondary accounts, so this remains open.
Were the Crown's debts to the Order, and the Templars' Paris lending, repaid, cancelled or transferred to others? The Paris and royal-finance lane is thin, with only a few checked facts.
How central was finance to the Order overall? The scholarly-debate lane has just one checked fact, so the balance between financial work and the Order's military and religious roles is still unsettled.
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Sources
"The properties of the Templars were carefully inventoried, lands rented out, and the treasury taken over by royal officials."The Emergence of Strong Property Rights: Speculation from history (2003)
"According to William Burgwinkle, the Templars had become a target of Phillip IV for their economic assets and for the debts the French crown owed the Templar Order."Analysing the Masculinity of the Knights of the Military Orders: Warrior Monks or Pious Knights? The Developing Identity of the Military Orders (2017) · saved copy
"dans le royaume de Valence , les biens des deux ordres seraient fusionnés dans un nouvel ordre, nommé d’après sa principale forteresse, Montesa ."
"Ce nouvel ordre fut confirmé par la bulle Ad fructus uberes en date du 10 juin 1317 , la règle le 22 novembre et avec acceptation le 3 décembre 1317 , par le pape Jean XXII , qui lui donna, à l’instar des autres ordres militaires hispaniques, la règle cistercienne"
"everyyearfromeverysheriffinEngland,andamarkfromeverycity,townorcastle paying the king £100 or more annually, which in the 1320s the Hospitallers com- plained was being withheld from them."The Knights Templar in English towns (2022) · saved copy
"These jurisdictional privileges could outlive the Order."The Knights Templar in English towns (2022) · saved copy
"thesuppressionoftheOrderbythepapacyin1312,followingthearrests of its br"The Knights Templar in English towns (2022) · saved copy
"Felipe luchó por quedarse con los bienes de la Orden, sin embargo Clemente V por medio de la bula Ad providam vicarii Christi del 2 de mayo de 1312, decretó que las propiedades de los templarios pasaran a la Orden de los Hospitalarios de San Juan de Jerusalén ."
"The bull Vox in excelso of 22 March 1312 suppressed the Order, and [[Ad providam]] of 2 May granted its property to the other great military order, the Hospital."Vox in excelso
"El 3 de abril de 1312, en la segunda sesión del Concilio, Clemente V anunció la transferencia de todos los bienes de la Orden del Temple a la de los caballeros de San Juan y órdenes militares, a través de las bulas Ad providam y Considerantes."
"Cuando en 1291 cae San Juan de Acre , el último bastión cristiano en Tierra Santa, los templarios se trasladan a Europa y se convierten en los principales banqueros y prestamistas de las monarquías europeas, especialmente de la francesa, en cuyo territorio se localizaban sus mayores posesiones."
"Cuando la orden fue suprimida en 1312, pasó a los hospitalarios , que lo mantuvieron hasta 1752."
"Más tarde, el hospital fue dado en usufructo a diferentes propietarios, incluidos los Corsini."
"En 1866 la familia Corsini vendió la iglesia y otros edificios, conservando el usufructo."
"In the staged trial by royalty, among other more or less fanciful accusations, there were references to violations of evangelical precepts regarding interest, although over time, the financial mechanisms invented by the Templars were adopted by almost all civilizations."LEGALITY AND INTEREST IN THE MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS (2024)
"Confrontado com uma frente unida na península Ibérica, o Papa exigiu a transferência dos bens templários para a Ordem dos Hospitalários , porém também a isto se opôs o rei D. Dinis, não só porque um comando hospitalário, no sediado no estrangeiro, podia revelar-se inconveniente contra a ameaça muçulmana do norte de África"
"Pope John XXII approved this order by a Papal bull on 14 March 1319"History of the Order of Christ
"O papa Clemente V foi sucedido por João XXII , que aceitou a proposta da criação de uma Ordem nova para substituir os templários em Portugal."
"Although an exception was made for the Templars' holdings in the Kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Portugal and Mallorca, in other kingdoms throughout Europe such as France and England the Templar's property was transferred to the Hospitallers."Freire
"In the case of Portugal with King Dinis I this was no different although in this case the Templars were merely converted to the Order of Christ in 1318"Freire
"The castle at Tomar was founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, the Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal."Tomar Castle and Its Templar Walls in Portugal
"Tomar was besieged for five days during the Almohad campaign of 1190"Tomar Castle - Wikipedia
"Esta Ordem foi sediada primeiramente em Castro Marim (no sudeste do Algarve) em 1319 mas em 1356 regressou a Tomar."
"a cidade foi cercada pelo califa almóada Iacube Almançor , mas os Monges Cavaleiros tiveram sucesso em defendê-la sob o comando de Gualdim Pais."
"Em 1357, a sede foi transferida para o Convento de Tomar."
"while he personally assumed the proceeds of the Templar treasury. In theory, and by Papal order, the Templars’ treasury was supposed to go to the Knights Hospitaller"Today in European history: the Knights Templar order is purged (1307) · saved copy
"Heads of convents were expected to pay their responsions at the chapter"Templar provincial chapters in the later thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries (2018) · saved copy
"such as the claims made by those who had been in receipt of corrodies"Templar provincial chapters in the later thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries (2018) · saved copy
"The surviving records of the submissions made by various individuals and institutions who claimed to have corrodies or income at the various Templar properties in England, which were in the king’s hands after the Templars’ arrests in January 1308, are preserved in TNA, E 142/9."The Inventories, Accounts, and Records of Debts for the Templars’ Estates in England and Wales, 1308-1313, as a Source for the Everyday Lives of the Templars (2025) · saved copy
"After January 1308 the royal officials who ran the estates sold all produce except what was needed for consumption by the farm workers and the portion of their wages that was paid in grain, and to feed the livestock."The Inventories, Accounts, and Records of Debts for the Templars’ Estates in England and Wales, 1308-1313, as a Source for the Everyday Lives of the Templars (2025) · saved copy
"I have identified inventories of chapel contents from 55 Templar chapels and churches in England, of which 31 related to Templar houses where at least one Templar was resident"The Inventories, Accounts, and Records of Debts for the Templars’ Estates in England and Wales, 1308-1313, as a Source for the Everyday Lives of the Templars (2025) · saved copy
"In England and Wales the Templars’ preferred crop was wheat, grown on virtually all their estates."The Inventories, Accounts, and Records of Debts for the Templars’ Estates in England and Wales, 1308-1313, as a Source for the Everyday Lives of the Templars (2025) · saved copy
"The bailiff and his assistant reeve would be responsible for day to day decisions on the running of an estate, but generally the employer – in this case the Templar commander – would set the overall strategy and have the final word over doubtful matters."The Inventories, Accounts, and Records of Debts for the Templars’ Estates in England and Wales, 1308-1313, as a Source for the Everyday Lives of the Templars (2025) · saved copy
"L’Archivio di Stato di Genova conserva inoltre gli archivi notarili, che rappresentano il suo fondo più celebrato, universalmente noto per l’antichità"
"si pensi all'uso che ne facevano gli ordini religiosi cavallereschi"
"but other concessions such as a large monetary payment and recognition of Templar sovereignty over all the Temple’s possessions in the Amanus Mounta"The Latin principality of Antioch and its relationship with the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia, 1188-1268 (2016)
"the behaviour of the Templars in the 1230s must have strained the Order’s relationship with the Antiochene prince. In c.1235 Armand of Périgord, the Master of the Temple, agreed to launch an attack upon the Armenian kingdom with Bohemond V in order to avenge the deaths of several Templars who had been executed by Hethoum for stirring up trouble against him."The Latin principality of Antioch and its relationship with the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia, 1188-1268 (2016)
"Later the Knights Templar provided this service to pilgrims traveling to and from the Holy Land"Money changer
"наибольшую выгоду Ордену приносили финансовые операции, некоторые из которых являлись пионерными."
"then accept it as deposit, recording its value in local currency"Money changer
"Инновационные инструменты в виде текущих счётов, вексельно-чекового обращения и денежных переводов благоприятствовали развитию отдельных бизнесов и международной торговли в целом."
"временное трастовое управление их имуществом"
"A traveler could deposit money at a Templar location in one country and receive access to funds at another location."The Knights Templar: The Warrior Monks Who Built a Banking Empire Before They Were Destroyed
"Monarchs sometimes borrowed money from them"The Knights Templar: The Warrior Monks Who Built a Banking Empire Before They Were Destroyed
"Secure money transfers across regions"The Knights Templar: The Warrior Monks Who Built a Banking Empire Before They Were Destroyed
"he confirmed to them all the donations of"The History of The Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple, by Charles G. Addison—A Project Gutenberg eBook
"from hidage, carucage, danegeld and hornegeld"The History of The Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple, by Charles G. Addison—A Project Gutenberg eBook
"Henry III’s charter to the Templars mentions tallage for the first time"Kennedy, Ross Stewart (2022) The practice of ‘exemption’ in Late-Medieval
"Comme la taille et les opérations des changeurs ont augmenté, ils ont commencé à fournir une facilité de prêt, en comprenant les frais de prêt dans les taux de change."
"Plus tard, les Templiers ont fourni ce service aux pèlerins voyageant de et vers la Terre sainte"
"El 1245, el comanador Pere Gil comprà unes cases i horts pròxims al convent barceloní"
"amb set establiments emfitèutics de parcel·les per a construir-ne d'altres"
"In the 4th Year of K. Richard I, Margaret de Perc: releaſed the Town of Rokeſby to the Knights Templars, in the King's Court before the Barons of the Exchequer (e)."The history and antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England, in two periods: to wit, from the Norman conquest, to the end of the reign of K. John; and from the end of the reign of K. John, to the end of the reign of K. Edward II. Taken from records. ... By Thomas Madox, ... The second edition. With a full and compleat index. 1769: Vol 1 (1769)
"Little of its structure survives, but early descriptions and sketches indicate that its church was like that at Temple Bruer Preceptory"Aslackby Preceptory
"we prohibit and forbid in all possible ways any ecclesiastic of layman to exhort from the master and the brothers of this house any fealty, homage, oaths or other securities, often employed by seculars."Omne Datum Optimum
"Also, we prohibit and forbid in all possible ways any ecclesiastic of layman to exhort from the master and the brothers of this house any fealty, homage, oaths or other securities, often employed by seculars."Omne Datum Optimum
"we by all means prohibit the exaction of tithes against your will from all moveable and unmovable possessions and anything that belongs to your venerable house."Omne Datum Optimum
"we by all means prohibit the exaction of tithes against your will from all movable and unmovable possessions and anything that belongs to your venerable house."Omne Datum Optimum
"But we confirm with apostolic authority the tithes that you might extract by your zeal, with the advice and consent of the bishops from the hands of clerics and laymen, and even those that you obtain with the consent of bishops and their clerics."Omne Datum Optimum
"But we confirm with apostolic authority the tithes that you might extract by your zeal, with the advice and consent of the bishops from the hands of clerics and laymen"Omne Datum Optimum
"Omne datum optimum et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a patro luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio nec vicissitudinis obumbratio."Omne Datum Optimum
"Gilbert de Ogrestan (le Templier accusé du détournement de la dîme de Saladin en 1188 et qui fut sévèrement puni par le maître de l'époque)"
"Historical evidence does not securely establish that a secret Templar fleet carrying the order's treasure escaped from La Rochelle immediately before the arrests."The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Myth or Truth? - Ruvyra
"Os reis Dinis de Portugal e Jaime II de Aragão proclamaram que não encontraram provas de heresia, blasfêmia ou imoralidade entre os Templários em seus respectivos reinos."
"One popular theory claims fugitive Templars escaped to Scotland because King Robert the Bruce had been excommunicated and might therefore ignore papal action against them."The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Myth or Truth? - Ruvyra
"Dois Templários, ambos da Inglaterra, foram examinados pelo Bispo de St. Andrews, na Escócia, e confessaram apenas delitos menores."
"There is no reliable contemporary evidence demonstrating that a secret Templar force fought at the Battle of Bannockburn."The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Myth or Truth? - Ruvyra
"Em junho, os Templários renderam-se, suas propriedades e tesouros foram apreendidos, e eles foram mantidos em Khirokitia"
"Prince Henry the Navigator became its governor."The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Myth or Truth? - Ruvyra
"Entretanto, as autoridades cipriotas retiveram o tesouro e os bens móveis para cobrir os custos extraordinários dos julgamentos."
"Il Banco fu fondato nel 1987 come "Banca di Genova e San Giorgio", in ricordo dell'antico Banco di San Giorgio , che fu dal 1797 al 1805 la nuova denominazione dell'antica "Casa delle compere e dei banchi di San Giorgio" fondata nel 1407 ."
"The Italian Maritime republics such as Venice , Genoa , and Pisa expanded their trade throughout the Mediterranean."Middle Ages
"Banco di San Giorgio (1453–1562)"
"Il Banco di San Giorgio: Genova culla della banca moderna"
"In central and northern Italy and in Flanders , the rise of towns that were, to a degree, self-governing stimulated economic growth and created an environment for new types of trade associations."Middle Ages
"Nascita 1284 Causa Battaglia della Meloria"
"Military religious orders such as the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller were formed and went on to play an integral role in the crusader states."Middle Ages
"L'affidamento dell'amministrazione della Corsica al Banco di San Giorgio nel 1453 rappresenta uno degli episodi più si"
"El presente artículo analiza la evolución historiográfica del estudio de las operaciones financieras templarías, desde su inicio en 1889 hasta la actualidad."
"Barber M (1994) The new knighthood: a history of the order of the temple. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge"The birth of sacred finance: the Knights templar and the European economic order (2026)
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