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From Jerusalem to Rosslyn?: The Templars in Scotland |
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The connection between the St Clairs and the Templars is also disputed by many.
North east corner of Rosslyn chapel
© Scran |
A Catherine St Clair is said to have married the founder of the Knights Templar, Hugh de Payens, and Hugh is said to have met with the family in Scotland. Hugh de Payens did embark upon a tour of Europe shortly after the establishment of the Templars, and did visit Scotland. The purpose of the trip was to raise money and support for the Temple, and the Templars were granted land by King David I, but there is no evidence that he met anyone connected to the St Clair family. As to a marriage with Catherine St Clair, there is no evidence of any Catherine St Clair having existed, let alone having married. The only reference to Catherine and the marriages comes from the ‘Priory of Sion’ documents which are regarded by many historians to be part of an elaborate hoax.
Whatever the truth of the Templars’ involvement in Rosslyn, it is unlikely that the speculation will end. The success of books written on the Templar mysteries and the number of websites devoted to the order shows that the public have a huge interest in their fabled secrets. Rosslyn receives a large amount of attention because of the Templars and the secrets that the chapel may hold. However, as Dorothy Wordsworth remarked when she visited in 1807, the chapel is “exquisitely beautiful”, and it would be a great pity if the architectural merit of the building was overlooked, and only the Templar legends remembered.
Your comments
1 Chev. James R. Reese from USA - 13 February 2004
"It is most interesting to note the debate about Templar knights fighting for Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. Those outside the Order wrestle with the impossibility of peasant rabble routing the English forces, while those knights and dames who are Scottish Knights Templar have no doubts whatsoever.
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"I think the more improbable position would be that the Templars did NOT fight at Bannockburn. They would have had every reason to support Robert, who had been excommunicated when they arrived in Scotland, for he was one of only a very few monarchs who welcomed the exiled Templars. Undoubtedly, other Templars were gathered to Scotland over the years as they learned where they could seek refuge.
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"From 1307 to 1314, most of the exiled Templars would have still been young and vigorous enough to have participated in a cavalry charge. Chroniclers of the time also described the group of cavalry under Keith to be "light" cavalry, not "heavy" cavalry . . . and the Templars had become well versed in the light cavalry tactics of the Muslim armies. In fact, light cavalry would probably have been more effective than heavy cavalry in routing the English and Welsh archers.
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"Robert had every reason to suppress the fact that Templars had been the decisive factor at Bannockburn, as he would not want to draw the ire of the papacy a second time. It would not have been good public relations with the Vatican to credit his victory to a suppressed religious Order!
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"He later combined the Templars with the Hospitallers, per papal decree. One might ask, "If there were no Templars in Scotland, why would Robert need to issue such an order?"
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"It is inconceivable that Knights Templar, given refuge and succor by Robert the Bruce after their terrible treatment at the hands of the Catholic Church and the French king, would "sit out" the Battle of Bannockburn! "
2 Isabel Junceda from Spain - 2 February 2004
"I have been reading "The Da Vinci code", I have so many doubts that I am close to think it is all false, but perhaps some body will read this and help me, is there any truth in it?, What do responsible historians say?"
3 Stewart Alexander from Ontario, Canada - 2 February 2004
"I would recommend reading the following books: "The Hiram Key", "The Second Messiah", "Uriel's Machine", "The Hiram Chapter", all by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas. Read them in order as they refer to the previous books throughout. Another interesting read would be "Rex Deus", the author's name escapes me and I have leant the book to a friend. Many of my friends have visited Rosslyn and have been awestruck by its carvings, artwork, and history. I have yet to make the journey to Scotland, but it may come soon. Definitely on my "to-do" list after retirement, anyway."
4 Mark Oxbrow from Glasgow, Scotland - 26 January 2004
"There is wonderful Rosslyn tale you might like to hear. The treasure of Rosslyn, worth some three million over a century ago, is said to be buried near the ruins of Rosslyn Castle. Its location is guarded by a phantom white lady who is in turn held captive by evil sorcery and a spirit of darkness. The templars did not build rosslyn, nor were any templars given refuge - that's all modern conspiracy theory .. but there has been a genuine legend of a secret treasure hidden somewhere at Rosslyn for many hundreds of years.
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5 Donald Maxwell Fowler CD from Brockville, Ontario, Canada - 13 January 2004
"I have spent the month of December/03 and January/04 reading--nay studying-- two books; namely, "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail", and "The Da Vinci Code", and having read much about Mary Magdalene and her husband "Jesus" meaning "Saviour" and "Christ" meaning anointed, as in the anointing of a monarch, I can only say that I have now undertaken the additional study of not only the "Dead Sea Scrolls", but also the "Nag Hammadi" finding, and I am now slowly but surely being converted to the principles of "gnosis" (knowledge) and "sophia" (wisdom) in the hope and trust that this 78-year old shall, perhaps, touch the edge of the truth about human--and other kinds of "Nature" found in this--OUR-- universe. Excelsior
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6 Stephen Bennett from Ontario, Canada - 8 January 2004
"I have little doubt that the original inhabitants of Scotland did in fact discover North America prior to Columbus. No nation has ever had more impact on the advancement of mankind. Some of the strongest characteristics of a person of Scottish heritage are : principals, education, unpredictability, bravery, honour, tradition. Just the kind of individuals that would venture out seeking the New Jerusalem in the new world.What has been discovered about Prince Henry Sinclair's voyages to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia & New England is evidence of this truth.
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7 J from USA - 7 January 2004
"I recently read an article that discussed the connection between Oak Island in Nova Soctia, Rosslyn Chapel and the Knights of Templar. The article stated many connections between the three and also theories that the Knights moved the Holy Grail and Ark of he Covenant to Oak Island because the Chapel was under suspicion. I think it also needs to be said that Rosslyn Chapel has been thought of for years as a gateway between the world of the living and the dead. But where do you seperate reality and myth?"
8 Dr. William Ramsey from Proctorville, Ohio, USA - 5 January 2004
"Comment 3, above, on Baigent & Leigh, seems also applicable to "The Second Messiah," which claims to trace these traditions back to the Hebrews' time in Egypt. What do responsible historians say?
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9 Neil Glass from stockport - 28 December 2003
"beautiful place there is more to it than meets the eye & soul"
10 Chuck Ridgeway from USA, Maryland - 16 December 2003
"Did you know that there is a young mens organization that has the name of Jacques DeMolay? It has been in existance since 1919. It promotes making good young men better. "
11 Bernard Barth from Canada - 16 December 2003
"I refer you to your own side-bar above under 'Internet Links' & "Prince (sic!) Henry Sinclair - shedding doubt..." I suggest that Brian Smith has far more credibility than Baigent & Leigh or, for that matter, William F. Mann in his "Labyrinth of the Grail". Baigent & Leigh, in particular, have the unfortunate habit of citing something as a possibility & treating it as an established fact a few pagers further on."
12 William Orr from Auburn, Ala. USA - 15 December 2003
"I come to you via research into all that is written in "The Da Vinci Code", by Dan Brown. All I can say is that it is an awesome road of herethetoo onknown avenues of knowledge. With the Intenet at our fingertips, volumes of information and opionion are available to any of us who whould search."
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