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Templar Quest in the Languedoc, France
Knights Templar, Cathars, Troubadours, Rennes-le-Château, Megaliths
Topics Covered
The Knights Templar
The Cathars and the Troubadours
Rennes-le-Château and its
Mysteries
Megaliths in the Languedoc,
France
Other: ranging over topics such as Otto Rahn and Montsegur,
the Priory of Sion, The Kabbalah, Mary Magdalene, The Sacred Feminine,
and the Gnostic Gospels,
The Knights Templar were a religious military order, established early
in the early 12th century at the time of the First Crusade. Their stated
purpose was to protect western pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem, though
in practice they rapidly evolved into a crack fighting force. Their full
name was the Order of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and of the
Temple of Solomon.
Like their brother Knights Hospitaller, the Knights Templar were monks
as well as knights. To become a Knight Templar one had to be of noble
birth, and worthy of knighthood. The knights took monastic vows and followed
a "Latin Rule" based on that of Cistercian monks. Indeed it
was a Cistercian, Saint Bernard, who gave them their "rule",
ultimately that of the Benedictines. They took vows of personal poverty,
chastity and obedience and spent their time fighting or practicing fighting
where other monks would be working or studying. Saint Bernard assured
them that in killing God's enemies they would win a reward in heaven.
Following the lead of the Count of Toulouse, western kingdoms and churches
throughout Europe rewarded the Templars with land, treasures and titles.
They accumulated even greater wealth by building castles and ports which
earned them rents, duties and taxes; and by lending money. They invented
international banking along with commercial instruments.
By the early years of the 14th century: Philip 1V of France who was heavily
in their debt contrived to have his puppet pope dissolved Knights Templar
on the basis of accusations that are now known to have been fabricated.
The Templars were accused of heresy. Their properties in France and elsewhere
were confiscated. Some Templars fled but those rounded up in France were
tortured. Some - those who refused to admit the false accusations, or
who confessed under torture but then denied their confessions were executed.
In 1312 the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar was condemned and
burnt at the stake in front of Knitter Dame in Paris.
There are many vestiges of the Templars throughout Europe from Rosily
Chapel, just south of Edinburgh to the Temple Church in London and their
commanderies in the Languedoc.
We will visit Templar sites, and hear talks on them by well known historians
and authors, discuss the Order and its history, assess its role during
the two centuries during which it flourished, investigate its demise and
discuss the various mysteries associated with it.
Fortified Templar Village in the Languedoc |
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Inside a Templar Village - the best preserved in
France. |
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Rennes-le-Château introduced by Henry
Lincoln
Rennes-le-Château is a small village in the Languedoc. It lies
at the centre of a series of mysteries focused on a nineteenth century
priest, Abbé Saunière, who was the curé of the church
here and involving theories about the nature of the Holy Grail.
A number of books have been written about Rennes-le-Château, including
Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code. We will review
the various theories and assess how much validity they carry.
The demon Asmodeus supporting the holy water stoup
at Rennes-le-Château |
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The largest passage tomb in Southern France: a
prehistoric allée couverte, known as the hill of the
fairies. Within the remains of the allée are two portals, each
constructed from two stone slabs, with semi ovoid entrance holes cut
into each, which together would create an oval shaped entrance. |
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