The Military Orders at the Court of King John*

In the years either side of 1200, the military orders, in particular the Knights Templar, are considered to have occupied a place of considerable importance at the royal courts of medieval Europe, not least at that of the Plantagenet kings of England. Members of the orders served as close advisers to these kings, fulfilled administrative roles, acted as custodians of royal wealth, lent money, carried messages on the king’s behalf, directed royal shipping, and served as royal almoners, to name just some of their roles. ¹ It can reasonably be assumed that both sides benefited. The Plantagenets secured the services of an efficient body of men prepared to support their government. In return, the orders hoped to benefit from the opportunity both to pursue their interests without undue royal interference and to look for potential rewards, thereby contributing to their efforts to support the defence or recovery of Christian territory in the Holy Land.