The Knights Templar and Freemasonry: Fact vs. Legend

Few Masonic myths are as popular as the idea that Freemasonry descends directly from the medieval Knights Templar. It is a thrilling story, but what does the historical evidence actually say? And what are the modern Masonic Knights Templar that still meet today? This guide covers both.

The Short Answer

There is no reliable evidence that the medieval Knights Templar secretly became the Freemasons. The connection is real in a different sense: since the 18th century, Freemasons have honored the Templars symbolically, and today the York Rite includes a Christian Masonic order called the Knights Templar that any qualifying Master Mason can join.

Who Were the Medieval Knights Templar?

The Order of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon was founded around 1119 in Jerusalem by a French knight, Hugues de Payens, and a small group of companions. Their original purpose was to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land after the First Crusade. King Baldwin II of Jerusalem gave them quarters on the Temple Mount, which is where the name Templars comes from.

The order received official church backing at the Council of Troyes in 1129, with strong support from Bernard of Clairvaux. Over the next two centuries the Templars became one of the most powerful institutions in Europe. They fought in the Crusades, owned property across the continent, and developed an early banking system that let pilgrims deposit money in one country and withdraw it in another. Their black and white banner was known as the Beauséant.

The Fall of the Templars

After the crusader states fell at the end of the 13th century, the Templars lost their main purpose, but kept their wealth. King Philip IV of France, who was deeply in debt, moved against them. On Friday, October 13, 1307, Templars across France were arrested on his orders and accused of heresy and other crimes. Many confessions were obtained under torture.

Under pressure from the king, Pope Clement V dissolved the order in 1312. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in Paris in 1314 after withdrawing his confession. Much of the order's property was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller.

The dramatic date of the arrests is often linked to the superstition about Friday the 13th. That link is a popular modern claim; historians have not established that the superstition actually began in 1307.

The Popular Legend

According to a widespread legend, surviving Templars went underground, perhaps in Scotland, and secretly evolved into the Freemasons, passing down hidden knowledge and treasure through the ages. Versions of the story connect the Templars to Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh, built in the 15th century, or to a lost Templar fleet. The tale appears in countless books, films and television shows.

What Historians Actually Find

Mainstream historians find no reliable evidence of a direct, unbroken link between the medieval Templars and modern Freemasonry. There is a gap of roughly four centuries between the suppression of the order and the founding of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717. The documented roots of Freemasonry lie with the medieval stonemason guilds, as explained in our article on the origins of Freemasonry, not with a secret Templar survival.

Where the Confusion Comes From

The association grew inside Freemasonry itself during the 18th century:

Over time, the shared name blurred the line between inspiration and ancestry in the public imagination.

The Modern Masonic Knights Templar

Today's Masonic Knights Templar meet in local bodies called Commanderies. In the United States they operate under the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, founded in 1816. The Commandery is the final body of the York Rite and confers three orders:

Members are styled Sir Knight, and Commanderies are known for their uniforms and for drill teams that perform at parades and conclaves. The Grand Encampment's main charity, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, funds research and treatment to prevent blindness.

How to Join the Knights Templar Today

The medieval order no longer exists, so the only way to become a Masonic Knight Templar is through Freemasonry. In the United States the usual steps are:

Requirements vary somewhat from state to state and in other countries, so contact the Grand Commandery in your state for details.

You may also see groups calling themselves Knights Templar that have no connection to Freemasonry. Some are historical reenactment or charitable societies; others claim a direct medieval lineage that historians do not accept.

Inspiration, Not Ancestry

The most accurate way to understand the connection is this: modern Freemasonry admires and draws symbolic inspiration from many historical sources, including the Templars, but it is not their secret continuation. The real history of the Craft is grounded in stonemasonry and the Enlightenment, and that story is remarkable enough on its own.

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