The Templars are arguably the most famous chivalric religious order, whose legacy has transcended history to become part of the collective imagination. This fame is undoubtedly due to the dark reputation that arose from the dramatic events surrounding their dissolution, with accusations of perversion and depravity brought against them by inquisitors unleashed by King Philip IV of France, who sought to seize their wealth. Some imagine the Templars still exist today as a secret society, with knights occupying prominent positions on the global stage. However, we’ll focus solely on the historical side and examine some intriguing articles from their Primitive Rule, originally written in Old French and rarely analyzed.

Among the early articles of the rule are specific guidelines on attire. For example, Article 22 prohibits wearing pointed shoes, as “it is well known that such abominable items belong to pagans.” Article 32 forbids the use of vulgar language and “profane laughter.” Article 43 stipulates that, without a master’s permission, a knight may not possess bags or chests with locks. Additionally, Article 44 bans receiving gifts without a master’s approval. Article 49 states that a knight must not boast of their exploits during their secular life, which are deemed “follies.” Article 52 prohibits the use of precious metals on bridles, stirrups, or spurs, a practice Saint Bernard of Clairvaux criticized among secular knights in his Praise of the New Knighthood. Intriguingly, Article 53 is highly specific and bans the use of covers for lances or shields, as they are “notoriously very dangerous.”

Even more surprising is Article 56: while the previous article forbids hunting as a pastime, this one makes an exception for lion hunting, a practice evidently present in the Holy Land. Article 57 is emblematic, asserting that “this brotherhood of armed knights may kill the enemies of the Cross,” echoing Saint Bernard’s concept of “malicide,” which argues that killing the enemies of God is not homicide but, rather, “malicide”— the destruction of evil.