Knights Templar in Scotland facts for kids

The Knights Templar were a special group of Christian knights. They were formed long ago to protect people traveling to Jerusalem. These knights wore white robes with a red cross. They were also present in Scotland starting in the 12th century.

The Knights Templar in Scotland

The Knights Templar first came to Scotland in 1128. Their leader, Hugues de Payens, met with King David I. The Templars set up a main base at Balantrodoch. This place is now known as Temple, Midlothian. It is located near the South Esk River.

Later, in 1189, a nobleman named Alan FitzWalter helped the Templars. He was the second Lord High Steward of Scotland.

Lands and Chapels

Around 1187, William the Lion, the King of Scotland, gave land to the Templars. This land was in Culter, by the River Dee, Aberdeenshire. Between 1221 and 1236, Walter Bisset of Aboyne also helped them. He founded a Preceptory for the Knights Templar there. A Preceptory was like a local headquarters for the Order.

In 1287 and 1288, the Templars built a chapel in Culter. It was called St Mary's Chapel. In 1309, a person named William Middleton was recorded. He was from the "Tempill House of Culter."

Templars and Scottish Records

Some people have said that Bishop Lamberton protected the Templars. He was the Bishop of St Andrews. He was also a Guardian of Scotland. However, there is no clear proof for this claim.

It is also interesting that a major Scottish history book, Chronicle of the Scottish Nation, does not mention the Templars at all. This book was written by John of Fordun.

Templar Lands in Scotland

The Knights Templar owned a lot of land in Nairn and Moray. This was in 1296. They had areas called Temple Land, Temple Cruik, and Temple Bank. They also owned Bogschand. These lands were near the town of Ardersier.

A special document from Nairn mentions a "locus trialis" at Ardersier. This was likely an old place for trials. These trials sometimes involved a "wager of battle." The Temple lands of Ardersier were later owned by the Davidsons and Mackays. They were bought by the Cawdor family in 1626.

Other Templar lands, like those at Brodie, were also sold around this time. For example, in 1626, the lands of Pitfundie became part of the Brodie estate.

Who Were the Knights Templar?

The Templars were a religious and military group of Knights. Their main job was to protect pilgrims. These pilgrims were traveling to Jerusalem. Back then, journeys like these were very dangerous. Robbers often attacked travelers.

The Knights Templar wore a white robe. On the front of their robe was a red Maltese cross. At first, only noblemen could join the Order. The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem also owned land in Nairnshire. It is hard to find out exactly where their lands were now.

The End of the Order

The Knights Templar were eventually stopped by Edward II, the King of England. Their property was then given to the Knights of St. John.

In 1312, the Pope issued a special order called Vox in Excelso. This order said that all the Templars' property should go to the Knights Hospitaller. The Knights Hospitaller were also known as the Order of St. John.

However, in Spain, new orders took over. These were the Order of Montesa and the Order of Calatrava. In Portugal, the Templars became the Order of Christ.

Some people have claimed that in Scotland, the Templars joined with the Hospitallers. They supposedly continued as "The Order of St John and the Temple." This continued until the Scottish Reformation. But there is no proof for this idea. The Order is thought to have ended in Scotland in 1553. This was when Sir James Sandilands, a leader of the Order, became a Protestant.

See also

• Scottish Knights Templar
• Rosslyn Chapel