List of grand masters of the Knights Templar facts for kids

The Grand Master of the Knights Templar was like the top boss or supreme commander of this special group of warrior monks. The first Grand Master was their founder, Hugues de Payens. Some Grand Masters stayed in charge for their whole lives. Others decided to leave their role to join a monastery or work on important diplomatic missions.

Grand Masters often bravely led their knights right into the middle of battles. Because fighting was so dangerous, some of these leaders were in charge for only a short time. Each country where the Templars operated had its own local master. These local masters reported directly to the Grand Master. He was in charge of everything the order did, including their military actions in the Holy Land and Eastern Europe. He also managed all their money and business dealings in Western Europe. The Grand Master guided the order's actions, but he was expected to live and act just like any other knight. After Pope Innocent II issued a special order called Omne datum optimum in 1139, the Grand Master only had to answer to the Pope himself.

Important Leaders of the Templars

This section lists the brave Grand Masters who led the Knights Templar throughout their history. They faced many challenges and played key roles in the Crusades.

No.	Arms	Name	Time in office	Seat
1		Hugues de Payens	c. 1119–1136	Jerusalem (Kingdom of Jerusalem)
2		Robert de Craon	1136–1147
3		Everard des Barres	1147–1151
4		Bernard de Tremelay (KIA)	1151–1153
5		André de Montbard	1153–1156
6		Bertrand de Blanchefort	1156–1169
7		Philip of Milly	1169–1171
8		Odo of St Amand (POW)	1171–1179
9		Arnold of Torroja	1181–1184
10		Gerard of Ridefort (KIA)	1185–1189	Acre (Kingdom of Jerusalem)
11		Robert of Sablé	1191–1193
12		Gilbert Horal	1193–1200
13		Philippe du Plessis	1201–1208
14		William of Chartres	1209–1219
15		Peire de Montagut	1218–1232
16		Armand de Périgord (KIA/POW)	1232–1244
17		Richard de Bures	1245–1247
18		Guillaume de Sonnac (KIA)	1247–1250
19		Renaud de Vichiers	1250–1256
20		Thomas Bérard	1256–1273
21		Guillaume de Beaujeu (KIA)	1273–1291
22		Thibaud Gaudin	1291–1292	Cyprus (Kingdom of Cyprus)
23		Jacques de Molay	1292–1312

See also

• List of Knights Templar
• Grand master (order)
• List of grand masters of the Knights Hospitaller
• Grand masters and lieutenancies of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
• Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
• Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus