uthunter
Full Member
I would be less inclined to worry about the possibility of any KT treasure after the KT were dissolved by the Pope. The majority of the KT transitioned into the Knights Hospitaller Order, all the KT property and monies were ordered transferred to the Hospitallers as well. What is not known is what did the Knights Hospitallers do with the monies from the former KT's banking ventures. The KH order became quite wealthy after the KT transfer, but no mention of what they did with it or where it has gone.
The KT banking venture was shut down at the transfer of the KT property, but all the proceeds from that and the monies from the donations by the wealthy families and kingdoms around Europe has never been explained or found. The KH were a monastic order same as the KT and the Cistercians, so the orders were self sufficient. Sure the KH built many buildings and other projects, but they were doing it before the KT transfer. The number of projects did not significantly increase to account for the spending of the monies.
It could be that the KT were almost broke as well. They may have spent all their monies in the crusades. Not likely tho.
The reason the french King pressured the Pope and had the KT in France arrested, was he was severely in debt to the KT. There could be other kings in the same position, but no other kings had the KT from/in their country arrested. There was only a few KT members killed in France, the King only wanted the senior members of the order imprisoned/killed.
The place to look for the KT monies would be with the KH. The KH did transfer/sell many of the properties they received from the KT throughout Europe.
The monies I am referring to is the silver, gold, jewels, plunder and other treasure the KT received thru donations of their faithful supporters in Europe, and spoils of war.
What exactly did the original nine KT remove from their excavations of the Temple Mount, and then take back with them when they just suddenly left the Temple mount and returned to Europe. Somewhere, there is going to be an inventory of what is was and where they took it. We know of one item, the wooden artifact they carried into battle. Everything else is unknown, they kept detailed journals of their exploits, so this would be out of character for them to not record their exploits at the Temple Mount.
There is speculation of what they removed, but no concrete proof. What they took and where it went would be the true treasure. France, England and Scotland are three possibilities.
The KT banking venture was shut down at the transfer of the KT property, but all the proceeds from that and the monies from the donations by the wealthy families and kingdoms around Europe has never been explained or found. The KH were a monastic order same as the KT and the Cistercians, so the orders were self sufficient. Sure the KH built many buildings and other projects, but they were doing it before the KT transfer. The number of projects did not significantly increase to account for the spending of the monies.
It could be that the KT were almost broke as well. They may have spent all their monies in the crusades. Not likely tho.
The reason the french King pressured the Pope and had the KT in France arrested, was he was severely in debt to the KT. There could be other kings in the same position, but no other kings had the KT from/in their country arrested. There was only a few KT members killed in France, the King only wanted the senior members of the order imprisoned/killed.
The place to look for the KT monies would be with the KH. The KH did transfer/sell many of the properties they received from the KT throughout Europe.
The monies I am referring to is the silver, gold, jewels, plunder and other treasure the KT received thru donations of their faithful supporters in Europe, and spoils of war.
What exactly did the original nine KT remove from their excavations of the Temple Mount, and then take back with them when they just suddenly left the Temple mount and returned to Europe. Somewhere, there is going to be an inventory of what is was and where they took it. We know of one item, the wooden artifact they carried into battle. Everything else is unknown, they kept detailed journals of their exploits, so this would be out of character for them to not record their exploits at the Temple Mount.
There is speculation of what they removed, but no concrete proof. What they took and where it went would be the true treasure. France, England and Scotland are three possibilities.