Are you reasonably well read in modern Templar research? Then you probably have heard about 18 ships leaving the port of La Rochelle on the eve of the arrests in France. This story is supposed to be almost the only piece of evidence regarding the fate of the Order’s treasures and it comes from the records of the trials. Numerous books repeat this account as their authors struggle with the question of where the Templar fleet went from La Rochelle. I will give you examples from very different writers.
The most commonly touted escape route of the Knights has long been claimed to be the port city of La Rochelle, about 300 miles from Paris. During the trials, Jean de Chalon testified that Gerard de Villiers, Preceptor of the Paris temple, had fled the country with 50 horses and 18 ships. The Templars did indeed have ships, but again, surely someone on the king’s side, privy to the arrest order, would have noticed streams of Templars making their way to La Rochelle, as well as unusual activity on the docks around the Templar
ships. There is no record of such a mass exodus.
Christopher Hodapp, Alice Von Kannon. The Templar Code For Dummies.
Although all this frustrated Philip, his greatest frustration was the disappearance of the treasure from the Paris Temple Bank. It had reportedly been loaded on a wagon train that raced for the port of La Rochelle. There the treasure was placed aboard the Templar fleet, again flying the skull and crossbones, from which it disappeared once more.
Steven Sora. Secret Societies of America’s Elite. From the Knights Templar to Skull and Bones.
If the Order knew what Philip’s plans were in advance, that might explain why the French king was unable to find the Order’s treasure (assuming it to have been actual, rather than metaphorical), which was said to have been smuggled out of the Paris Temple shortly before the arrests and taken by river to the Templars’ main naval base at La Rochelle. How many Templar ships sailed from La Rochelle in the autumn of 1307 is unknown – what they were carrying likewise – but one thing is known: the Templar fleet vanished utterly.
Sean Martin, The Knights Templar.
Somehow, however, the actual original account (which exists and is available in Latin) where this story comes from is never quoted. So, here is your chance to find out how second hand history happens.
In the summer of 1308, a large group of Templars were brought to Poitiers to satisfy the Pope’s wish to have them interrogated by his officials, rather than the king’s men. Many of these knights were known to be cooperative and some apparently held a grudge against the Order. The interrogations went without a hitch and an absolution was granted to the knights. One of the men whose confessions were heard at Poitiers was Jean de Châlon. In a rather standard way, he spoke of unorthodox initiation ceremonies and especially pointed out that the Order’s officials were corrupt to the point that they demanded money from every initiate.
Dixit eciam, quod paucas faciunt elemosinas, multa tamen relicta pro elemosinis in usus proprios convertunt. Nunquam vidit fieri correctionem in capitulo, quamdiu fuit in ordine. Litteris apostolicis abutebantur indistincte et habent clericos in qualibet preceptoria, qui vexabant plures ad mandatum eorum. Item dixit, quod potentes ordinis prescientes istam confusionem fugiunt et ipse obviavit fratri Girardo de Villariis ducenti quinquaginta equos, et audivit dici, quod intravit mare cum XVIII galeis, et frater Hugo de Cabilone fugiit cum toto thesauro fratris Hugonis de Peraudo.
Heinrich Finke. Papsttum und untergang des Templerordens: Quellen, 339
He also said that they (the Knights Templar) give little alms, and even turn to their own use much of what is received as alms. During all his time in the Order he has never seen anyone reprimanded in a chapter meeting. They rashly abused papal ordinances and in any given preceptory there were clerics at their command who harrassed many people. He also said that the leaders of the Order, having foreknowledge of this infamy, fled and that he himself met Brother Girard de Villiers leading fifty horses and then heard someone say that he sailed out to sea on 18 galleys, while Brother Hugo de Châlon escaped with the entire treasure of Hugo de Pairaud.
Did you notice anything missing? There is no mention of La Rochelle! This port (its Latin name is Rupella) is simply not present in de Châlon’s testimony. Thus far I was unable to figure out who and when first linked La Rochelle to the 18 galleys that this knight talked about. So, while every amateur Templar historian is trying to guess where the ships went after leaving La Rochelle, it is highly questionable that this departure ever occurred in the first place. Even if we assume that the Knights Templar were able to secure 18 galleys for this voyage (which is extremely unlikely), they could have left from any harbor in France. It is true that La Rochelle has been known for its Templar presence, but was that necessarily a good thing if you are trying to escape notice?
It is also important to remember that de Châlon only claims to have seen Hugo de Villiers in charge of a large cargo. He was not an eyewitness of the ships’ departure. Furthermore, de Châlon’s confession in Poitiers was not supposed to be a big reveal of where the treasures went. The knight is simply using this story as further proof of his superiors’s corruption. There is certainly no implication being made that the Order’s possessions were being transported for the sake of keeping the Knights Templar alive and finding a new base for their operation. But it is also evident that de Châlon held a grudge against his organization. In that sense, his information is somewhat believable, even though he was only partially an eyewitness to the events that he described.
2 comments… add one
Historians, Often Judge Parchment Templar Evidence Against Today’s Standards. BIG MISTAKE. Today’s Information Travels at the Speed of Light. The Knight’s Templar the ‘First” and “Best Highly Trained and Motivated Special Ops” Fighting Force the World had Ever Seen, at this Point in World History, No Doubt had a few “Tricks” Hidden Up Their Chain Mail Sleeves. I Say this because I as a Historian, Constantly Catch Myself trying to Maintain an Unbiased Balance, Against what WAS, AND WHAT IS PLAUSABLE. The “Myth Busters” Rule Most often Applies, MAYBE, PLAUSABLE, or BUSTED. I Too have Found the 18 Ships at La Rochelle to be “Most Likely” TRUTH, my Disclaimer(s) would be as follows ” I have Never Sailed such a Vessel as we Discuss here, nor been Aboard a Like Vessel. The Shoreline at La Rochelle would have been Vastly Different THEN, as it Appears today, and the Surrounding Terrain, As Well. The meager possessions of the KT , ALL Went to The Church, Lands, Buildings, NO Ships, Phillip the Cursed Did not get any Ships nor Treasures, Only Dead Bodies, later His, and the Pope’s as well. GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE, AND GRACE. WE Must “Assume” Therefore that the Ships set Sail for ??????? A Known Ship in the KT Naval Fleet was called the Saint Lawrence, Any Thoughts? Chief
Could Chalon been a decoy. Meant to way lay the Pope, etc, until the rest of the Templars could get away with the treasure? What does Rochelle mean in French? I seem to remember something about Rochelle in connection to the Freemasons….