The Treasure of the Knights Templar
Thanks to the novels of Dan Brown, as well as the blockbuster movies they inspired, most of us are familiar with the Knights Templar. The religious order was established in 1119AD to protect Christian pilgrims on their journeys through the Middle East, with a network of castles and other fortifications built to offer shelter to those in need. Their work was supported by rich benefactors, meaning that over the centuries, the Knights Templars were able to amass a veritable fortune, not just in gold coins, but also in jewels and other precious objects such as artworks. Could it really be that a huge stash of this treasure was hidden away, never to be found?
Some Templar researchers certainly believe this to be the case, and a handful have even dedicated their lives to finding this lost treasure. They argue that, in the confusion and turmoil that surrounded Pope Clement II’s 1307 decree that all Knights should be arrested, and their possessions seized, not only did many Knights escape, but a large proportion of their wealth could have gone missing too. But that doesn’t solve the biggest question of them all: where are the vast riches accumulated by the Knights hidden?
According to most Templar historians, the Paris Templar members succeeded in loading up a wagon full of their treasure and leaving France just before that fateful day in 1307. Many believe they fled to Scotland, taking their wealth – and even maybe the Holy Grail – with them. However, no concrete evidence has ever been found of this happening, so quite what became of the riches of the Paris temple remains a mystery.
Recently, speculation has been mounting that the so-called Oak Island Treasure – a stash believed to be buried on this island in Nova Scotia – could, in fact, be the lost loot of the Knights Templar. Perhaps its lying here waiting for the Order to rise up again…
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Did Archaeologists Uncover Blackbeard’s Treasure?”. Abigail Tucker, The Smithsonian, March 2011.
“Where are the Romanovs’ Missing Faberge Easter Eggs?”. Allison McNearney, The Daily Beast, March 2016.
“British Explorer Closes in On Legendary ‘Treasure of Lima'”. Jasper Copping, The Daily Telegraph, August 2012.
“Town under siege as missing ‘Kruger gold’ is found on farm”. Christopher Munnion, The Daily Telegraph, June 2001.
“Is This Famous Samurai Sword Missing in America?”. Allison McNearey, The Daily Beast, July 2016.
“Amber Room: Priceless Russian treasure stolen by Nazis ‘discovered by German researchers;”. The Independent, October 2017.
“Nazi gold train search abandoned – but brings in £150 million for Polish town”. Benjamin Kentish, The Independent, August 2016.
“Discovery Channel to air mystery of ‘The Patiala Necklace'”. Sandeep Unnithan, India Today, February 2004.
“The lost jewels of Bad King John”. Theodora Sutcliffe, BBC, September 2017.
“Sunken Portuguese galleon sighted in Java Sea”. The Malaysian Star, April 2014.