Tag: latin

Latin was the main languages of jurisprudence and diplomacy in the Middle Ages. Although few members of the Knights Templar knew Latin, this language was used for official business.

Primary sources and documents / Secret societies

Charta Transmissionis (a.k.a “The Charter of Larmenius”)

Charta Transmissionis

This charter is believed to be a forgery by most people who do not subscribe to the notion that the Knights Templar somehow managed to survive as a secretive organization after being officially disbanded in the 14th century. The Latin text here is taken from the OSMTH page. I have checked it against Acta Latomorum where it first appears in printed form. A few transcription errors have been fixed.

The only way I can judge the authenticity of this text is by its language. For instance, I am quite surprised to find the phrase “ad majorem Dei gloriam” which was only used once (by pope Gregory the Great), as far as I can tell, before Ignatius Loyola created the the Jesuits’s famous motto. And yet, the author of the charter clearly uses these words as if they are formulaic! Another interesting feature is the phrase “privilegia contuli”.This simply cannot be found in any medieval text that I have access to. This formula, however, is used routinely (usually in the plural – contulimus) in university diplomas of the much later period. Undoubtedly, the creator of the Larmenius Charter had such a diploma!

Ego frater Johannes Marcus Larmenius, hyerosolimitanus, Dei gratia et secretissimo venerandi sanctissimique martyris, supremi templi militiæ magistri (cui honos et gloria) decreto, communi fratrum consilio confirmato, super universum templi ordinem, summo et supremo magisterio insignitus, singulis has decretales litteras visuris, salutem, salutem, salutem.