Ancient Mysteries Revealed

What Happened to the Templar's Treasure?

The popular narrative suggests that the Knights Templar treasure was vast wealth and sacred relics, like the Holy Grail, amassed during the Crusades, but its existence is debated. It seems likely that much was seized by the French Crown in 1307, with theories of hidden portions possibly at Oak Island or Rosslyn Chapel, though evidence is inconclusive and it’s unlikely. The evidence leans toward the treasure being more legend than fact, with no definitive proof of its current location, fueling ongoing speculation and controversy.

​

The Knights Templar treasure is believed to be a collection of immense wealth and sacred relics, including items like the “Holy Grail”, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Shroud of Turin, accumulated during their role in the Crusades. The Templars, a medieval Christian military order, were known for their financial prowess and significant donations, owning vast lands and operating early banking systems.

​

When the Order was suppressed in 1307 by King Philip IV of France, much of their wealth was seized by the Crown. However, legends persist that some treasure may have been hidden or smuggled away, with theories suggesting locations like Oak Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. Other speculations include Malta or North America, but there is no concrete historical evidence confirming the treasure's existence or location, leaving it a subject of myth and ongoing treasure hunts.

​

The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a prominent medieval Christian military order active during the Crusades. Their alleged treasure has captivated historians, treasure hunters, and the public alike, blending historical fact with layers of myth and speculation.

The Templars emerged in the early 12th century, gaining official endorsement from the Roman Catholic Church around 1129. Their alleged mission was to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, and they quickly amassed significant wealth through donations from European nobility, land acquisitions, and their pioneering role in early banking. By the 13th century, they controlled nearly 1,000 commanderies and fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land, owning large tracts of land, farms, vineyards, cathedrals, castles, fleets of ships, and even the entire island of Cyprus. Their financial techniques included issuing letters of credit for pilgrims by 1150, protecting them from robbery and augmenting Templar finances. At their peak, the Order had 15,000–20,000 members, with 10% being knights, and likely 7,000–8,000 employees and dependents, reflecting their extensive economic influence.

​

The treasure was not only monetary but also included sacred relics purportedly discovered during their time at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Speculative items include the Holy Grail, the cup from Jesus's Last Supper; the Ark of the Covenant, a chest containing the Ten Commandments and other Old Testament relics; the Turin Shroud, a cloth with a man's face possibly linked to Jesus's burial; and a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls' Copper Scroll, believed to map locations of Second Temple treasures, as per historian Hugh Schonfield. Additionally, accounts mention vast gold, silver, and precious objects from their wealth and banking operations, with historical records noting 50 horses carrying goods out of Paris in 1307, overseen by Gerard de Villiers, the preceptor of French Templars. The Order was also accused during trials of worshipping a figure known as Baphomet or a mummified severed head, possibly believed to be John the Baptist, recovered at their original headquarters, though no evidence confirms these claims.

​

Evidence seems to lean toward much of the Templars' wealth being seized by King Philip IV of France when he suppressed the Order in 1307, driven by his deep debt to them and political motives. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was executed on March 18, 1314, and the Order was officially disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312, with their assets largely absorbed by the French Crown and other orders like the Knights Hospitaller. However, legends persist that some members, forewarned of arrests, may have absconded with artifacts, leading to theories of hidden treasure. Historical consensus, as noted by the US Naval Institute, suggests no secret treasure was discovered under the Temple of Solomon or elsewhere, with the Templars' wealth tied more to their NGO-style operations supporting Crusader states rather than a hidden hoard.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence, numerous theories abound about the treasure's fate. Some believe it was hidden by secret societies like the Freemasons, passed down through generations, with connections to modern groups claiming Templar heritage. Others suggest it was buried at the Fort of St Angelo in Malta, due to the Order of St John's association in the 16th century, or taken to North America by Henry Sinclair, a 14th-century figure, possibly hidden near Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland, explored in Dan Brown’s "The Da Vinci Code". Oak Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, is frequently linked, with tunnels and emblems found under Scottish castles suggesting Scottish families safeguarded secrets for over 90 years post-1307. Other speculated locations include Bornholm, a remote Danish island in the Baltic.

​

Recent discoveries, such as artifacts found by Hamilton White and Carl Cookson, including a libation cup, sword with three Templar crosses, helmet, and obsidian chalice, valued at $135 million from Nova Scotia and La Rochelle, have been claimed to potentially alter perceptions of Templar history, though their authenticity and connection to the Order remain debated.

The Knights Templar treasure has become a staple in popular culture, featured in novels like "Ivanhoe," "Foucault's Pendulum," and "The Da Vinci Code"; movies like "National Treasure," "The Last Templar," and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"; TV series like "Knightfall"; and video games like "Broken Sword," "Deus Ex," "Assassin's Creed," and "Dante's Inferno". These portrayals often depict the Templars as keepers of a long-lost treasure, fueling conspiracy theories, including claims of preserving Jesus' bloodline and connections to modern secret societies. The controversy stems from the lack of historical evidence, with some viewing the treasure as a myth perpetuated by treasure hunters and media, while others see it as a symbol of the Templars' enduring legacy and mystery.

​

The Knights Templar treasure, while rooted in their historical wealth and possible relic discoveries, remains largely a legend, with no definitive proof of its existence or location. Historical records suggest much was seized by the Crown in 1307, but theories of hidden portions at various global sites continue to inspire speculation. This detailed examination underscores the blend of fact and fiction, highlighting the Order's significant economic role and the enduring fascination with their alleged treasure, which continues to be a subject of debate and exploration.

​

That’s the popular narrative driven by an institutional perspective. Now, for the rest of the story…

Institutionalists (academic, religious, and governmental entities and their affiliates) would have us believe that the Americas were populated via a migration following animal herds across the Bering Sea land bridge during the last Ice Age. They perpetuate the idea that Columbus discovered America, even though he never set foot on American soil. That Columbus was the first European here is upended by a Viking settlement in Newfoundland proven to have preceded him by 500 years. There are innumerable out-of-place objects, an infusion of DNA, linguistic, architectural, and cultural collapses from European diseases as evidence, as well as oral histories and documented stories and myths from other cultures from long before the Vikings or Columbus found throughout the Americas. Yes, I take a diffusionist position. With a preponderance of overwhelming evidence, it’s hard not to as the institutional position smacks of a ludicrous narrative supporting erroneous self-serving agendas.

​

Here's the deal… There is evidence that the seafaring Phoenicians were here thousands of years ago. Apparently the copper they mined in the Great Lakes region was responsible for the Bronze Age. It appears that they came out of the Mediterranean, and following the ocean’s currents, sailed north of the British Isles to Iceland, went west to the coast of southern Greenland, then to Newfoundland. It’s a route that’s been used for centuries and still used! From Newfoundland they sailed south along the coast of North America, entering the St. Lawrence seaway that took them to the Great Lakes, as well as continuing down along the east coast to the Chesapeake Bay where they explored the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers. Continuing further down the coast they entered the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, exploring the Mississippi River, the Yucatan peninsula, and then the Amazon River and South America.

​

The Phoenicians were perhaps the most formidable seafarers of their time; astute businessmen who were literate, familiar with different cultures, and spoke several languages. They understood law and the art of the deal as they were shrewd negotiators and financiers. They were employed by many cultures to carry them to distant lands: Egyptians, Israelites, Greeks, and Romans, even the Templars and the Vikings. All of them dealt with the Phoenicians.

Okay. That’s nice to know. But what has it to do with the Templar treasure? Everything! The Bible implies in 2 Samuel 7:10 that God told King David, through the prophet Nathan, of a Second Promised Land. There is also biblical and historical evidence that this “Second Promised Land” was likely in the Americas, the “Land to the West”. From the time of King David until at least the time of Hezekiah, the nation of Israel sent expeditions here. If, as I suspect, Hugues de Payens (Ugo Ebriaci) was a messianic figure, his mission was to reconstitute the nation of Israel, not in the Promised Land of Abraham, but in the Second Promised Land of David IAW 2 Samuel 7:10, in America. The Templar intent was to explore and colonize the New World IAW God’s covenant with David. To that end they first had to recover treasures of the First Temple of Solomon from Jerusalem and establish a land claim in the name of God, as exemplified by the Kensington Rune Stone and Narragansett (In Hoc Signo Vinces) Rune Stone, before bringing the treasure to the Americas. That’s exactly what they did! To protect the treasure and prevent it from falling into the hands of the Catholic Church or capture by other bad actors such as France or Spain, the Templars divided and widely disbursed their treasure. Though rumors abound, no one knows for certain what the treasure is or where it may be hidden.