Grand Masters of the Knights Templar

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Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (also known as the Knights Templar), starting with founder Hugues de Payens in 1118. While many Grand Masters chose to hold the position for life, abdication was not unknown. Some masters chose to leave for life in monasteries or diplomacy. Grand Masters often led their knights into battle on the front line and the numerous occupational hazards of battle made some tenures very short.

Each country had its own Master, and the Masters reported to the Grand Master. He oversaw all of the operations of the Order, including both the military operations in the Holy Land and eastern Europe, and the financial and business dealings in the Order's infrastructure of western Europe. The Grand Master controlled the actions of the order but he was expected to act the same way as the rest of the knights. After the Pope issued a Papal Bull on behalf of the Templars, the Grand Master was obliged to answer only to Rome.

List of Grand Masters

Hugues de Payens, First Grand Master
Jacques de Molay, Last (23rd) Grand Master
# Arms Name Time in office
1. Armoiries Hugues de Payens.svg Hugues de Payens 1118–1136
2. Armoiries Robert de Craon.svg Robert de Craon 1136–1147
3. Armoiries Evrard des Barres.svg Everard des Barres 1147–1151
4. Armoiries Bernard de Tramelay.svg Bernard de Tremelay  1151–1153
5. Armoiries André de Montbard.svg André de Montbard 1153–1156
6. Armoiries Bertrand de Blanquefort.svg Bertrand de Blanchefort 1156–1169
7. Armoiries Philippe de Milly.svg Philip of Milly 1169–1171
8. Armoiries Eudes de Saint-Amand.svg Odo de St Amand (POW) 1171–1179
9. Armoiries Arnaud de Toroge.svg Arnold of Torroja 1181–1184
10. Armoiries Gérard de Ridefort.svg Gerard de Ridefort  1185–1189
11. Armoiries Robert de Sablé.svg Robert de Sablé 1191–1193
12. Armoiries Gilbert Hérail.svg Gilbert Horal 1193–1200
13. Armoiries Philippe du Plaissis.svg Phillipe de Plessis 1201–1208
14. Armoiries Guillaume de Chartres.svg Guillaume de Chartres 1209–1219
15. Armoiries Pierre de Montaigu.svg Pedro de Montaigu 1218–1232
16. Armoiries Armand de Périgord.svg Armand de Périgord (POW) 1232–1244
17. 50px Richard de Bures (Disputed) 1244/5–1247 [1]
18. Armoiries Guillaume de Saunhac.svg Guillaume de Sonnac  1247–1250
19. 50px Renaud de Vichiers 1250–1256
20. 50px Thomas Bérard 1256–1273
21. Armoiries Guillaume de Beaujeu.svg Guillaume de Beaujeu  1273–1291
22. 50px Thibaud Gaudin 1291–1292
23. 50px Jacques de Molay 1292–1314

See also

Notes

  1. Armand de Périgord was either killed or captured at the battle of La Forbie; authorities differ. Richard de Bures commanded the Templars until the election of Guillame de Sonnac; whether he was Grand Master is disputed. See Armand de Perigord (1178-1247), at www.templiers.org