The Knights Templar were reputed to be the bravest soldiers during the Crusades – first into battle and last to quit the action. Fighting in strict formation and toughened by a spartan regime of military drills and prayer. So, what were the greatest battles that involved the Knights Templar?
The Siege of Ascalon – The Siege of Ascalon was a military conflict that took place from January 25 to August 22, 1153. The Kingdom of Jerusalem defeated the Fatimid Caliphate and captured the city of Ascalon. The siege was part of the Crusader–Fatimid wars. Baldwin III of Jerusalem led a large army against Ascalon. The siege lasted months. The Christians used siege engines and catapults. The Egyptians were unable to challenge the Franks on land. The Christians were unable to gain superiority over the Egyptians at sea.
The garrison surrendered on August 10, allowing the garrison to leave peacefully. The Christians occupied the city and gained a large amount of treasure. Ascalon was an important castle that was used by the Fatimids to launch raids into the Crusader kingdom’s territory. It was the last coastal city in Palestine that was not controlled by the Crusaders.
The Battle of Montgisard in 1177 – The Knights Templar, led by Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, defeated Saladin’s army despite being outnumbered. The Templars’ military skills and combat spirit were on display in this victory. About 500 Templar knights and several thousand infantry defeated Saladin’s army of over 26,000 soldiers.
The Christian forces, led by 16-year-old King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, were outnumbered by the Muslim army. The Christian forces lured the Muslim army into marshy ground, where they were defeated. The Christian forces captured Saladin’s baggage train. Saladin fled back to Cairo with only a tenth of his army.
It was a famous victory for the Knights Templar. The battle was an important episode in Knight of Jerusalem, the first book in a three part biography of Balian d’Ibelin.
The Battle of Hattin – A decisive battle that was a catastrophe for the Crusaders. The Knights Templar and other leading men of the kingdom of Jerusalem were trapped in a wasteland without water and surrounded by hostile forces. This battle led to the loss of Jerusalem.
On July 4, 1187, the Muslim army of Saladin defeated the Christian Crusader army at the Horns of Hattin in northern Palestine. This was a turning point in the Crusades and led to the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem.
The Crusaders were camped at Sepphoris when they heard that Saladin attacked Tiberias. Around 20,000 Crusaders left their camp to relieve Tiberias. The Crusaders ran out of water while being harassed by Saladin’s cavalry. Saladin’s army surrounded the Crusaders and cut off their retreat. The Muslim army captured or killed most of the Crusader forces.
The Battle of Hattin is considered the most famous battle of the Crusades. It galvanised Muslim forces and made Saladin a revered hero. The battle prompted the Third Crusade, which began in 1189.
The Siege of Tomar – The Siege of Tomar was a military battle in 1190 in which the Knights Templar successfully defended the city of Tomar, Portugal from an Islamic army. The battle was a key event in the Portuguese Reconquista. The Almohad caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub al Mansur led an Islamic army across the Tagus River and surrounded Tomar Castle.
The siege lasted six days, with the Muslims attempting to conquer the castle several times. The Templars, led by Grand Master Gualdim Pais, defeated the Muslims. The battle was so violent that the Almedina Door became known as the Blood Door. The victory confirmed the military strength of the Knights Templar and their role in defending Portugal from the Moors. The Knights Templar castle and the Convent of Christ within the castle are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Battle of Legnica – The Battle of Legnica was a Mongol victory over a Christian alliance on April 9, 1241. The battle took place near the city of Legnica in Poland during the first Mongol invasion of Europe. The Mongols used a smokescreen to hide their movements and confuse the Europeans.
The Mongols tricked the Christian army into pursuing them by feigning retreat. The Mongols sent in their heavy cavalry, while their archers kept up a deadly barrage of arrows. The Mongols beheaded Duke Henry II of Silesia and paraded his head on a spear before the town of Legnica. The Battle of Legnica was the furthest point the Mongols reached in Europe. It marked the complete defeat of the Christian forces.
The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa – The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa was a Christian victory over the Almohad Muslims on July 16, 1212. It was a key turning point in the Christian reconquest of Spain. The Christian forces of King Alfonso VIII of Castile, Sancho VII of Navarre, and Peter II of Aragon defeated the Almohad army led by the caliph al-Nasir.
The Christian forces caught the Almohad army off guard, breaking through their defensive line of slave-warriors. The battle was a major success for the papacy of Innocent III. It was the first crusade to successfully implement all aspects of papal crusade policy.
The Siege of Acre 1189-1191 – The siege lasted almost two years, making it one of the longest sieges of the Middle Ages. The Crusaders built ramparts and dug ditches to protect themselves. The Crusaders were able to break through Acre’s walls in July 1191. The siege was a key victory for the Crusaders and a setback for Saladin’s plans.
The siege involved armies from Europe, Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Maghreb. The Crusaders were led by King Richard I of England, King Philip II Augustus of France, and Duke Leopold V of Austria. The Crusaders defeated Saladin’s relief force and forced the garrison to surrender. The siege was a major setback for Saladin’s plans to destroy the Crusader states. The siege was one of the last major sieges before the use of gunpowder.
The siege inspired a new wave of Crusading fervour. The siege widened the rift between the Crusader leadership. King Philip and Leopold returned to Europe, taking their contingents with them. Richard took the Crusader Army further into the Holy Land to continue his campaign against Saladin.
The Siege of Acre 1291 – The Siege of Acre in 1291 was when the Mamluks defeated the Crusaders and took control of the city of Acre. This marked the end of the Crusades in the Levant and the fall of the last major Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land.
The siege resulted in the loss of Acre to the Mamluks, ending the Crusaders’ control of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. The fall of Acre was the final fatal blow to Christian Crusader ambitions in the Holy Land. The Christians – including the Knights Templar – were forced to flee for good and seek refuge on Cyprus.
If you’d like to know more about the greatest battles fought by the Knights Templar in the Crusades – then get hold of this book: The Knights Templar – History & Mystery – by Tony McMahon – published by Pen & Sword – available on Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, WHSmith, and other online bookstores.
