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The Templar Grand Masters - 1118/1120 - 1314

Overview and entourage

Within the Templar hierarchy, the Grand Master was absolute ruler of the Order and answerable only to the pope. Although his position was a powerful one, he was still obliged to live by the same Rule of Order that those under him swore to obey. However, the Rule did grant him a fairly extensive entourage:

  • 4 horses
  • 1 Chaplain Brother
  • 1 clerk with 3 horses
  • 1 Sergeant Brother with 2 horses
  • 1 gentleman valet with 1 horse
  • 1 farrier
  • 1 Saracen scribe
  • 1 turcopole
  • 1 cook
  • 2 foot soldiers
  • 1 turcoman
  • 2 knight brothers as companions

Source: The Rule of the Templars Upton Ward p. 39

Base of Operations

From the Order's foundation in 1119/1120 until the fall of Jerusalem the Grand Master was headquartered in Jerusalem. From 1191 until 1291, he was stationed at Acre and after the loss of the port city in 1291 was stationed on the Island of Cyprus.

List of Grand Masters From 1118 - 1314

While historians generally agree on the names of the men who led the Order over its nearly 200 years of existence, there is considerable disagreement in the dates that some individual Grand Masters held their post. The list below has been compiled from the works of three books on the History of the Knights Templar:

  • The New Knighthood by Malcolm Barber
  • The Templars by Piers Paul Read
  • Dungeon, Fire and Sword by John J. Robinson
Grand MasterMalcolm BarberPiers Paul ReadJohn J. Robinson
Hugues de Payens 1119 - 1136 1119 - 1136 1118 - 1136
Robert de Craon 1136 - 1149 1137 - 1149 1136 - 1146
Everard des Barres 1149 - 1152 1149 - 1152 1146 - 1149
Bernard de Tremeley 1153 - 1153 1152 - 1153 1149 - 1153
Andrew de Montbard 1154 - 1156 1153 - 1156 1153 - 1156
Bertrand de Blancfort 1156 - 1159 1156 - 1169 1156 - 1169
Philip de Milly (Nablus) 1169 - 1171 1169 - 1171 1169 - 1171
Odo de St Amand 1171 - 1179 1171 - 1179 1171 - 1179
Arnold de Torroja 1181 - 1184 1180 - 1184 1179 - 1184
Gerard de Ridefort 1185 - 1189 1185 - 1189 1185 - 1189
Robert de Sablé 1191 - 1192/3 1191 - 1193 1191 - 1193
Gilbert Erail 1194 - 1200 1194 - 1200 1193 - 1200
Philip de Plessis 1201 - 1209 1201 - 1209 1201 - 1208
William de Chartres 1210 - 1218/9 1210 - 1219 1209 - 1219
Peter de Montaigu 1219 - 1230/2 1219 - 1232 1219 - 1230
Armand de Périgord 1232 - 1244/6 1232 - 1244 ???? - 1244
Richard de Bures Not Listed 1244 - 1247 1245 - 1247
William de Sonnac 1247 - 1250 1247 - 1250 1247 - 1250
Reginald de Vichiers 1250 - 1256 1250 - 1256 1250 - 1256
Thomas Bérard 1256 - 1273 1256 - 1273 1256 - 1273
William de Beaujeu 1273 - 1291 1273 - 1291 1273 - 1291
Theobald Gaudin 1291 - 1292/3 1291 - 1293 1291 - 1293
Jacques de Molay 1293 - 1314 1293 - 1314 1293 - 1314

ALLEGED Grand Masters from 1314 and beyond

While history certainly shows that the Templars were dissolved in 1312 with the papal bull vox in excelso, there exists a manuscript - largely discredited by historians - which purports to be a list of the Grand Masters of the Templars following the death of Jacques de Molay in 1314.

This document, referred to as the Larmenius Charter or Carta Transmissionis, suggests that de Molay transferred the reins of the Order to Jean-Marc Larmenius while in prison. According to those who believe the legitimacy of the document and its claims, Larmenius carried on the duties of Grand Master in secret until the Order was made public in 1804.

The Alleged List of Grand Masters

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