05/09/2025
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
Hugues de Payens and eight other knights, including Geoffroy de Saint Omer and the Portuguese Pedro Arnaldo da Rocha, were companions of Godfried de Bouillon when they founded the Order of the Templars, also known as "The Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple," in 1119.
Other knights included Payens de Montdidier, Archambaud de St. Amand, and André de Montbard (Bernard of Clairvaux's uncle). All are from noble families in France and the ruling house of Flanders. Gondemaria and Rosal also joined the Cistercian Order of St. Bernard.
The historic city of Troyes was home to the court of Hugues I, Count of Champagne (c. 1074–1130). As Augustobona Tricassium, Troyes has existed since the Roman era. It was at the intersection of many roads, chiefly the Via Agrippa.
This well-executed plan took more than 20 years to prepare because it required extensive planning. When Hugues de Payens visited Constantinople in 1096 to be initiated into the secret Order of the Johannites, he was ready to start this journey. In volume I of his work, The History of the Deeds Beyond the Sea, William of Tyre describes the order as “The Brethren of the Soldiers of the Temple.”