This post only deals with tracking of treasure, not any supposed trips made to North America during 1398 by Jarl Henry Sinclair.
Tracking the supposed lost treasure of the Knights Templar has been a grand exercise towards historical research, with most folks main interest focused on treasure removed from Paris during 1307.
Modern day authors have used this as a foundation to promote the Templar coming to North America via Scotland in 1398 under the protection of clan St. Clair.
First, was there a treasure fleet which transported the treasure out of France? If so, where was the most likely destination? Regardless of the destination, how did the wealth of such a treasure manifest itself?
Supposedly the King of France was witness to the treasure in Paris before Friday, October 13, 1307. After this date the treasure was gone.
Could the Templar have gained protection in Scotland from Clan St. Clair?
The papers known as 'Processus factus contra Templarios in Scotia, 1309' details the trial of Knights Templar in England, Scotland and Ireland. The document contains the testimony of Henous (Henry) de Sancto Claro and Willielmus (Williamn) de Sancto Claro who spoke AGAINST the Templar.
Henry would be the second Baron of Roslin, Jarl Henry's (who supposedly came to North America during 1398) great-grandfather and his brother William who would be appointed the Bishop of Dunkeld in 1312. Might make it a little tricky to hide a mob of Templars when your brother is a local Papal VIP.
The gist of the testimony stated the Knights Templar were of no good, for ?if the Templar had been faithful Christians they would in no way have lost the Holy Land?.
Considering they were saying this to a Catholic Bishop for these men being (implied) unfaithful Christians, it pretty much supports the notion of this order not being or never having been supported by clan St clair. Those were pretty damming statements for 1309.
I think we can directly ruling out Scotland and Clan Sinclair as the treasure fleet destination, so what is a more reasonable destination?
Directly across the Bay of Biscay is/was a Knights Templar owned and controlled city known as Santiago de Compostela, where the body of Saint James was supposedly buried and rediscovered. This city was at the time of the Templar the biggest pilgrimage destination outside of Rome and Jerusalem.
Did the supposed Templar Treasure come here?
While the various European crowns and Bishops were arresting Knights Templar, the same could not be said in Portugal and Catholic controlled Spain. Many historical records show these two countries welcomed the Knights Templar to the point of petitioning the Pope to create various new orders to absorb them. The following link is a great read which details this fact.
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http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/christ.htm
The Knights Templar were officially dissolved as an order in 1312. Please read for details
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Vienne
With all of this said, what happened to the supposed treasure?
This writer contends a good portion of the treasure went to bribing the very men who comprised the Council of Vienne. While the Knights Templar may have been dissolved, land wealth taken away, and the banking system for the Pope removed from their control, they were not convicted of heresy thus saving their eternal souls for heaven.
The remaining wealth most likely went towards the Portuguese and Spanish Crown as protection money until the various orders mentioned above were created in 1318.
Processus factus contra Templarios in Scotia 1309 clearly disproves supposed protection offered to the Knights Templar by clan Sancto Claro/St. Clair/Sinclair.
I have tried to attach the document for everyone to read; however it is 728kb when the maximum attachment size is 500kb
Cheers
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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,15827.msg128822.html#msg128822
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