Random Interesting Theories Historians Have Proposed About Knights Templar (11 items)

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  (#1) Their Execution Was To Cover Up Information About The Blood Line Of Christ

  One theory popularized in modern culture - specifically in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code - is that the Knights Templar were not killed because King Phillip didn't want to pay them what he owed them. Instead they were killed for what they knew about the secret bloodline of Christ - specifically that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child. 

  The secret society that held this knowledge was called the Priory of Scion, which had deep connections to the Knights Templar. It's said all of Jesus's alleged descendants were killed off by the Roman Catholic Church. Because of this they knew they also had to kill anyone with knowledge of their existence - including the knights. Some say this was partially motivated to keep Jesus as a Christ figure and to allow Paul to ascend to power over Mary Magdalene and her decedents, presumably the children of Jesus. 
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  (#2) The Knights Cursed King Phillip And The French Monarchy

  In total, King Philip rounded up more than 60 knights and killed them. While some managed to escape the trials and executions by fleeing on ships, many of those arrested on October 13 were the top knights in the organization.

  One such knight was Grand Master Jacques de Molay. He was burned alive and was the last official member of the Order executed. As legend has it, de Molay screamed out to Philip and the Pope, cursing them and their families. A month later the pope died from disease and later that year Philip died in a hunting accident. All three of Philips son's died within the next two decades and were referred to as the "Cursed Kings." 
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  (#3) They Discovered Treasure And Knowledge While Digging Beneath Temple Mount

  While the Knights Templar were still operating on behalf of Christianity during the Crusades, they used a royal palace called Temple Mount as their Jerusalem headquarters. Modern archeologists have dug underneath Temple Mount in an attempt to discover more about what life was like during that time and any artifacts the Order (or others) might have left behind. 

  But some think there's more to the story. Why would modern archeologists and scholars be digging under Temple Mount? Could it be that's exactly where the Order discovered ancient records of Christianity? Possibly. Some speculate the Knights found evidence the Catholic Church was not practicing Christianity the way Jesus and his followers intended, putting the church in jeopardy. Is it possible modern governments are searching for the same sort of information as they dig under Temple Mount? 
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  (#4) They Found America Before Columbus

  As the story goes: In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But was he the first to officially discover America? Some believe the Knights Templar traveled to North America at least 100 years before Columbus made his infamous journey. 

  Researchers Tim Wallace-Murphy and Marilyn Hopkins wrote a book about the subject titled Templars In America: From the Crusades to the New World. They believe Henry Sinclair (sometimes referred to as St. Clair), Lord of Roslin and member of the Order, set sail to America in 1396 and left proof of their visit off the Atlantic coast of both the United States and Canada. Sinclair is said to have assimilated into a native tribe in Canada where he later died. 
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  (#5) They Kept Their Secrets - Including The Holy Grail - In Rosslyn Chapel

  Before Sinclair departed for North America, it's believed he hid many of the Order's treasures in Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel construction began in 1446 in Scotland and was at the behest of the Sinclair clan. It still stands today, and is considered one of the finest pieces of architecture in Scotland. Among its many architectural features are 213 cubes with inscriptions in them. 

  Many believe these inscriptions are Order-related, and even skeptics have found them fascinating and strange. Some say the inscriptions are a code to what lies beneath the chapel. At one time, it was speculated the Holy Grail, the mummified head of Jesus, the crown jewels of Scotland, and a vast amount of treasure were stored in a tomb underneath the temple. No entrance to any tomb has ever been found. 
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  (#6) Their Treasure Is Buried On Oak Island

  When Sinclair allegedly came over from Europe in the late 1300s, he brought with him a trove of treasure. It's said he buried it on Oak Island, an island off the coast of Nova Scotia. According to legend, on the day King Philip indicted the Knights Templar, the Order loaded up their various treasures from their headquarters in Paris and loaded it onto boats. From there, the boats were sent to Scotland and eventually settled with Sinclair. He hid the treasure in Rosslyn Chapel.

  In an attempt to start a new, utopian Order, he and the treasure - along with the Zeno brothers of Venice and handful of others - sailed to modern day Canada. The new Order did not survive, and instead of heading back to Europe they buried the treasure on Oak Island. The treasure is protected by a "Money Pit" full of complicated traps. 

  Since the 19th century, treasure hunters have come to the island in hopes of finding the Order's bounty - many of whom died. In 2006, brothers Michigan natives Rick and Marty Lagina purchased a major stock in the island and got the go ahead to start excavating it. They've since starred in a TV show on The History Channel about their attempts to locate the treasure called The Curse of Oak Island. 
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  (#7) The Friday The 13th Superstition Began With The Knights Templar

  The Knights Templar were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307 on the orders of French King Philip IV. At the time, Philip owed the knights a substantial amount of of money. Instead of paying up he accused them of being heretics and devil worship - something that would stick with the Knights Templar throughout history - and had them arrested. They were subsequently burned at the stake. 

  While many point to Friday the 13th's origin as lore from the Bible, some say the fear of the day actually is derived from the knights's arrests. 
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  (#8) The Skulls Of The "List Of 12" Are In A French Church To This Day

  Historians debate how many Knights Templar were able to escape the persecution of King Philip, though it's undisputed that at least a few were able to make it out alive. But one document called "The List of 12" that was uncovered in the 1800s by researcher Heinrich Finke specifically lists 12 knights who managed to escape. 

  Many speculate they and possibly others who survived persecution fled to the French-controlled mountains to an area known as Luz. The ghost of du Molay allegedly haunts the church which stands to this day near the border of Spain and France. It's also rumored the skulls of the 12 Order survivors are buried in the church, though historians highly speculate the validity of that. 
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  (#9) They (Somewhat) Control The US Government

  Many believe that after the Order officially disbanded in the 12th Century, they formed the Freemasons. Conspiracy theories surrounding the Freemasons are vast and include everything from controlling the media, elections, and universities to the popularity of celebrities. 

  So how does this connect to the Knights Templar exactly? Well, according to conspiracy theorists the Illuminati, Freemasons, Knights Templar, and Jews are working together to establish a New World Order deeply rooted in the occult that threatens Christianity worldwide. This will be done through population control, non-religious government controls, and mind control through mass media. If this seems crazy that's because it is. Modern New World Order believers include televangelists, neo-nazis, and alt-right groups who support white supremacy. 
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  (#10) They Predicted And Possibly Caused 9/11

  Conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks on 9/11 are a dime a dozen, so it should come as no shock many believe the Knights Templar had some sort of involvement. Theorists break down the connection between the Knights Templar and the numbers nine and 11. For instance, the Order was founded in 1118, and 1+1+1+8 = 11 and the original order had nine knights. There are a slew of other numerical connections theorists make between the Knights Templar and 9/11 which you can read about here.
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  (#11) The Knights Lived On As Freemasons And Helped Defeat England in Scotland

  After the capture and suppression of the Knights Templar, there are legends the order went underground in Scotland. They eventually joined Robert the Bruce’s army in the fight against England. When he won Scottish independent they joined the new Royal Order of Scotland in 1314. The King established a Grand Lodge of Freemasons whose leader was a former Knight Templar. 

  The Knights Templar were also called the Order of the Temple of Solomon. They and the Freemasons clubs that sprung up in the 17th century both centered on the Temple of Solomon. The Freemasons freely borrowed from the Knights mythology and popular imagination continues to insist they (and their wealth) are connected. The Knights were an explicitly Christian oriented group with serious vows similar to other Christian monks. The Freemasons had a more general belief in a higher power and accept members from all faiths. 

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