Templar Steel
Page 32
‘Well, young squire,’ he said, ‘do you have any idea where to start?’
‘Aye, I do,’ said Hassan. ‘A place called Segor on the southern edge of the salt sea, but worry not, I know a shortcut.’
Cronin turned to look at the battlefield one more time, pausing to reflect on how many had died.
‘Leave it behind you, my friend,’ said Hunter, seeing the look in Cronin’s eyes, ‘for it is a burden no man will ever bear well. Come, unless I am mistaken, there is a cross to retrieve and very little time to find it.’
Both men turned their horses away from Montgisard, and as they followed De Mailly and Hassan further into the hills, the weight of the quest burned deep into Cronin’s thoughts.
The task before them was almost impossible, and the available time far too short, but with God on their side, he had to believe there was just the slightest chance they would find the Cross of Courtney. He had to believe it.
His and Hassan’s lives depended on it!
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The End
Author’s notes
As is usual in this sort of book, the storyline is fictional but based around actual events at the time. On occasion, poetic license may have been applied to make the story work. If this has happened, I hope you will forgive the transgression to accommodate the tale but don’t forget, it is a work of historical fiction. Any mistakes within are mine and mine alone.
Terminology
The term ‘Saracen,’ was a general derogatory name often used for any Arab person at the time. It did not refer to any one tribe or religion and was considered offensive by many of the indigenous cultures of the Holy Land.
Similarly, the term ‘Crusader,’ was never used in the twelfth century as a reference to the Christian forces. They were usually referred to as the Franks or Kafirs by the Saracens.
The ‘Outremer,’ was a general name used for the Crusader states, especially the County of Edessa, the Principality of Antioch, the County of Tripoli, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Templar Ranks Used in This Book
The Grand Master was head of the Templars and was in charge of the entire order, worldwide. Odo de St. Amand (often known as Eudes) was the Grand Master of the Templars between AD 1171 and AD 1179. He was a powerful leader and fought in several campaigns but was most prominent in the Battle of Montgisard where he and a relatively small number of Templar knights led the charge that ultimately defeated a far superior Saracen army led by Saladin himself.
During times of war, the Seneschal organised the movement of the men, the pack trains, the food procurement, and other issues of moving an army.
The Marshal, on the other hand, was very much a military man, and the Master would usually consult with him, as well as the Seneschal before making any final decisions on tactics.
The Leper King
King Baldwin IV was indeed a leper and it was William of Tyre who first noticed he suffered no pain when his arm was scratched while playing with other children when he was a child. This was a usually seen as a symptom of Leprosy.
Despite his young age, Baldwin went on to be a powerful and respected king, winning several battles against the Saracens. His biggest victory was at Montgisard when he was only sixteen years old. Toward the end of his life, he was often carried into battle on a stretcher, such was his deformity, to show his men he was with them both in spirit and body.
The Knights Templar
The Order of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon was formed in or around AD 1119 in Jerusalem by a French knight, Hugues de Payens. They were granted a headquarters in a captured Mosque on the Temple mount in Jerusalem by King Baldwin II.
At first, they were impoverished, focussing only on protecting the weak on the road to Jerusalem but after being supported by a powerful French Abbot, Bernard of Clairvaux, the order was officially recognised by the church at the Council of Troyes in AD 1129. From there they went from strength to strength and soon became the main monastic order of knights in the Holy Land. Their influence grew across the known world, not just for their deeds of bravery but because of their business acumen and the order went on to become very wealthy and very powerful.
The Emblems of the Templars
The Templar seal was a picture of two men riding a single horse. This is thought to depict the order’s initial poverty when it was first formed though conversely, one of the rules of the order was that two knights could not ride one horse. When travelling or going to war, they rode under a white flag emblazoned with a red cross. Some historians believe it was in honour of St George, who’s spirit many soldiers believed was seen at the battle of Antioch in AD 1098 during the first crusade.
The image of the cross was also used on other items of clothing and equipment by the Templars, and indeed other orders of warrior monks (though not in red.) However, research shows that the red cross was not officially adopted until it was awarded by Pope Eugene III in AD 1147. Before this time the knights wore only a plain white coat.
Raynald of Châtillon
Raynald was the son a French noble who joined the third crusade in AD 1146. He served as a mercenary in Jerusalem before marrying the princess of Antioch, Constance of Hauteville in AD 1153. This made him prince of Antioch and he soon became known for his brutality and warlike tendencies. Always in need of funds, his reign was cut short in AD 1161 when he was captured by the Muslim governor of Aleppo after a raid in the Euphrates valley against the local peasants. He spent the next fifteen years in jail before finally being ransomed and set free.
King Baldwin made him ‘Regent of the kingdom and of the armies,’ in AD 1177 and he was one of the leaders at the famous battle of Montgisard.
William of Tyre
William was the archbishop of Tyre and a renown chronicler. He was also King Baldwin’s tutor and it was he that first saw the symptoms of leprosy when the king was only thirteen years old. He is the only known person living in Jerusalem who recorded events at that time.
The Battle of Montgisard
In November 1177, the sixteen-year-old Leper king, Baldwin IV, led a makeshift Christian army south from Jerusalem in a rushed effort to delay Saladin in his advance northward from Egypt.
In an attempt to cut off the Sultan’s advance, Baldwin occupied the city of Ashkelon and ordered the Templars to hold Gaza, hoping to use both cities as the base from which he could launch his campaign of defence. In addition, as his main army was still in the north, he issued an Arriere-ban, a general call to arms that obligated every Christian to rally to his banner in defence of the realm.
Saladin responded by placing both cities under siege while his main army laid waste to the surrounding region including the towns of Ramla, Lydda and Arsuf. With the king contained within the city of Ashkelon, the sultan became complacent and allowed his men to rampage freely.
During this time, Baldwin became aware of the threat to Jerusalem itself and burst through the siege at Ashkelon before heading north to intercept the Ayyubid army. Some reports also say that the Templars did the same at Gaza and rendezvoused with the king at Montgisard. The Christian forces were heavily outnumbered with some records suggesting that Saladin had upward of twenty-six thousand men in the field while Baldwin’s army was probably no more than ten thousand including just over four hundred knights.
However, by now Saladin was experiencing difficulties and his supply caravan had become bogged down at a nearby river. Baldwin took advantage of the confusion and decided to attack immediately but first, he prayed at the foot of the true cross, the giant Christian relic they had taken into battle.
The vanguard was led by the Templars, approximately eighty heavily armed knights who charged line abreast into the disorganised Saracen army. Their impact was overwhelming, and they pierced the position almost up to the Sultan himself. The rest of Saladin’s army panicked and with the Templar’s assault being followed up by Baldwin and the rest of the army, their lines soon disintegrated with many warriors fleeing the scene. Saladin�
�s nephew and main commander, Taqi ad-Din was killed at the battle.
Saladin realised the day was lost and only escaped by riding a racing camel as fast as he could back towards Egypt. Behind him, many of his forces were slaughtered on the battlefield and most of the others killed as they fled southward. Very few made it home.
The Christian army did not have it all their own way though and some reports say that over a thousand died with almost the same number wounded. It was indeed, a very bloody day.
Baldwin celebrated the victory by erecting a monastery dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria as the battle had fallen on the day of her feast.
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Summary
The Templar Order
To finish off the book I was going to try and describe the order by reproducing a list of the many strict rules that the Templars had to obey. However, I eventually realised that the following chapter from a book written in the early 12th century, praising the fledgling order puts it far better than I ever could. I hope you enjoy.
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From Saint Bernard of Clairvaux from his 12th century book - In praise of the new knighthood
Chapter 4 - On the life style of the knights of the temple
And now as a model, or at least for the shame of those knights of ours who are fighting for the devil rather than for God, we will briefly set forth the life and virtues of these cavaliers of Christ. Let us see how they conduct themselves at home as well as in battle, how they appear in public, and in what way the knight of God differs from the knight of the world.
In the first place, discipline is in no way lacking and obedience is never despised. As Scripture testifies, the undisciplined son shall perish and rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, to refuse obedience is like the crime of idolatry. Therefore they come and go at the bidding of their superior. They wear what he gives them, and do not presume to wear or to eat anything from another source. Thus they shun every excess in clothing and food and content themselves with what is necessary. They live as brothers in joyful and sober company, without wives or children. So that their evangelical perfection will lack nothing, they dwell united in one family with no personal property whatever, careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. You may say that the whole multitude has but one heart and one soul to the point that nobody follows his own will, but rather seeks to follow the commander.
They never sit in idleness or wander about aimlessly, but on the rare occasions when they are not on duty, they are always careful to earn their bread by repairing their worn armour and torn clothing, or simply by setting things to order. For the rest, they are guided by the common needs and by the orders of their master.
There is no distinction of persons among them, and deference is shown to merit rather than to noble blood. They rival one another in mutual consideration, and they carry one another’s burdens, thus fulfilling the law of Christ. No inappropriate word, idle deed, unrestrained laugh, not even the slightest whisper or murmur is left uncorrected once it has been detected. They foreswear dice and chess, and abhor the chase; they take no delight in the ridiculous cruelty of falconry, as is the custom. As for jesters, magicians, bards, troubadours and jousters, they despise and reject them as so many vanities and unsound deceptions. Their hair is worn short, in conformity with the Apostle’s saying, that it is shameful for a man to cultivate flowing locks. Indeed, they seldom wash and never set their hair – content to appear tousled and dusty, bearing the marks of the sun and of their armour.
When the battle is at hand, they arm themselves interiorly with faith and exteriorly with steel rather than decorate themselves with gold, since their business is to strike fear in the enemy rather than to incite his cupidity. They seek out horses which are strong and swift, rather than those which are brilliant and well-plumed, they set their minds on fighting to win rather than on parading for show. They think not of glory and seek to be formidable rather than flamboyant. At the same time, they are not quarrelsome, rash, or unduly hasty, but soberly, prudently and providently drawn up into orderly ranks, as we read of the fathers. Indeed, the true Israelite is a man of peace, even when he goes forth to battle.
Once he finds himself in the thick of battle, this knight sets aside his previous gentleness, as if to say, “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord; am I not disgusted with your enemies?” These men at once fall violently upon the foe, regarding them as so many sheep. No matter how outnumbered they are, they never regard these as fierce barbarians or as awe-inspiring hordes. Nor do they presume on their own strength, but trust in the Lord of armies to grant them the victory. They are mindful of the words of Maccabees, “It is simple enough for a multitude to be vanquished by a handful. It makes no difference to the God of heaven whether he grants deliverance by the hands of few or many; for victory in war is not dependent on a big army, and bravery is the gift of heaven.” On numerous occasions they had seen one man pursue a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.
Thus in a wondrous and unique manner they appear gentler than lambs, yet fiercer than lions. I do not know if it would be more appropriate to refer to them as monks or as soldiers, unless perhaps it would be better to recognize them as being both. Indeed they lack neither monastic meekness nor military might. What can we say of this, except that this has been done by the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes. These are the picked troops of God, whom he has recruited from the ends of the earth; the valiant men of Israel chosen to guard well and faithfully that tomb which is the bed of the true Solomon, each man sword in hand, and superbly trained to war.
I think that says it all.
K.M.Ashman
Also by K. M. Ashman
The India Sommers Mysteries
The Dead Virgins
The Treasures of Suleiman
The Mummies of the Reich
The Tomb Builders
The Roman Chronicles
The Fall of Britannia
The Rise of Caratacus
The Wrath of Boudicca
The Medieval Sagas
Blood of the Cross
In Shadows of Kings
Sword of Liberty
Ring of Steel
The Blood of Kings
A Land Divided
A Wounded Realm
Rebellion’s Forge
The Warrior Princess
The Blade Bearer
Individual Novels
Savage Eden
The Last Citadel
Vampire
The Brotherhood
Templar Steel
Templar Stone (Coming Soon)
Audio Books
A Land Divided
A Wounded Realm
Rebellion’s Forge
The Warrior Princess
Blood of the Cross
The Last Citadel
KMAshman.com