Seven events that marked the Crusades and the Templars
September gathers episodes linked to different stages of the Crusades and the history of the Order of the Temple: Battles, treaties, expeditions, and political decisions reshaped the landscape of the Holy Land until reaching the final years of the organization and its persecution in Europe.
September 21–29, 1096 — Siege of Xerigordos
The crusaders, led by Reinald of Broyes, managed to occupy the fortress of Xerigordos in Anatolia during the People's Crusade. The position was soon surrounded by the Seljuk forces of Kilij Arslan, who cut off access to water and subjected the defenders to a prolonged siege, until the garrison finally capitulated on September 29.
The defeat showed the difficulties that the first crusader groups would encounter while advancing through Anatolian territory.
September 7, 1191 — Battle of Arsuf
The army of Richard the Lionheart was advancing toward Jaffa when Saladin's troops launched a series of attacks against the crusader column, a confrontation that culminated in a Christian victory at Arsuf.
The Templars occupied a prominent position during the battle and participated in the combat. The result allowed Richard to continue his advance along the coast and reinforce Christian positions in the Holy Land.
September 2, 1192 — Treaty of Jaffa
Richard the Lionheart and Saladin reached an agreement that ended the Third Crusade.
The Treaty of Jaffa established a truce and recognized Muslim control over Jerusalem, while Christians retained coastal territories and obtained guarantees for access to the holy sites.
The agreement ended the campaign without recovering the city, although it allowed for a Christian presence to be maintained along part of the coast.
September 29, 1227 — Excommunication of Frederick II
Frederick II had begun his expedition to the Holy Land, but an illness forced him to return shortly after leaving Europe; because of this, Pope Gregory IX interpreted his withdrawal as a failure to fulfill his commitments and decided to excommunicate him on September 29.
The conflict between the two intensified and conditioned the development of the Sixth Crusade, which Frederick would later undertake despite remaining under excommunication.
September 17, 1248 — Louis IX arrives in Cyprus
Louis IX of France arrived in Cyprus while organizing the expedition that would lead to the Seventh Crusade; from then on, the island became a strategic base for gathering troops, supplies, and ships before heading toward Egypt.
The Templars participated in the preparations and subsequently accompanied the crusader army during the campaign.
September 26, 1302 — Fall of Ruad
The fall of Ruad was one of the last major blows to the military presence of the crusaders in the East.
The island was defended mainly by Templars and was attacked by Mamluk forces. After resisting the siege, the garrison agreed to surrender under conditions that were ultimately not respected, and the survivors were captured and taken to Egypt.
The loss of Ruad ended the last important position held by the Temple in that area.
September 14, 1307 — Order for the arrest of the Templars
Philip IV of France ordered the secret preparation for the arrest of the members of the Order of the Temple and the seizure of their assets.
The instructions were distributed among royal officials so that the operation could be carried out in a coordinated manner. The arrests began on October 13 and triggered the trial against the Templars in France.
From then on, the Order was subjected to accusations, interrogations, and proceedings that would finally lead to its suppression.
September between East and Europe
These dates span over two centuries of history.
Xerigordos shows the difficulties of the first crusaders; Arsuf and Jaffa reflect the fighting and diplomacy of the Third Crusade; Frederick II and Louis IX represent new expeditions to the East, Ruad marks the end of the Templar military presence in the Holy Land, and 1307 shifts the scene to France, where the process that would end the Order of the Temple began.
Taken together, these events show how the environment in which the Templars operated changed over time: from the campaigns and defense of Christian territories in the East to the loss of their final positions and, ultimately, their persecution in Europe.
The history of the Temple did not end in the Holy Land, but continued in a very different political scenario, where the very existence of the Order would end up being called into question.
