The Knights Templar in Battle

Men and Material
When Hugo de Payens left Europe for the Holy Land with new members of the Order, they immediately got involved in battle: the siege of Damascus.
Since they lost most of their men there, they concentrated on their inital task now: protecting the Pilgrim-road to jeruzalem (Hierosolym).
In the meantime from the West came a flow of new men and material. Because of increasing demand for new troops in The Holy Land the Knights Templar participated in different campaigns.

Size and Equipment
the core of the Templars army was formed by knights (those of royal blood). When the army was at full battle strength there were on average 600 knights.
Each knight had at least three horses, two squires (on horseback as well). He was standard equipped with:

• chainmail
• weapons
• cloth
• other clothing
• shield
• helmet
• tent etc.

Each knight had more horses because the horses fought with their masters in battle, when the horse was tired, injured or worse it had to be replaced.
Around the knights the regiment constisted of warriors a.k.a.: 'brother-sergents', who were full members of the Order but who were not of nobility, they usually were about 2000 strong.
Further the regiment had a few thousand 'Turcopoles' (locally hired troops), some of them on horseback, mostly armed with bow and arrow.
Then there were the socalled: 'Chaplins', they didn't fight but did the religious blessings and the necessary mental support. This mental support ought not to be overlooked. If soldiers (nowadays) have psychological problems like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), it can be imagined that soldiers fighting in close combat, looking the enemy in the eye, feeling and seeing the agression, fear, and seeing him in pain or dying, from up close, and getting the blood of enemies all over them (which must be horrific) develop the same type of psychological problems. The mental support of Chaplins is not that well known in regular sources about the Knights Templar, but it deserves more attention at least.
At last there were support troops, like: blacksmiths, carpenters, macons, cooks etc. they were paid and hired workers who were not required to participate in battle, unless they volunteered. If the going got too tough, they were allowed to retreat. Retreat was strictly forbidden to battle troops, they were only allowed to retreat when the Grandmaster gave the signal.

Strict rules during battle
The Knights Templar had strict rules of battle. They were only allowed to attack when the order to do so was given. No one could leave the battlefield without permission, if the own unit was scattered the Templar had to report to the closest unit that kept battle rank. In case of total defeat one had to find a shelter as good as possible and report to the most nearby preceptory.

Confusion on the Battlefields-politics etc
many factors were responsible for confusing situation in war and in battle:

• Dynastic problems (many noblemen tried to be King of Jeruzalem)
• Colonists (usually the main source for soldiers, but they got influenced by the eastern culture and customs)
• inexperienced crusaders (they arrived on irregular basis and just barged into battle with anyone they could fight)
• christian-Kings (they usually served their own interest instead of common interest)
• reconquista (Iberia) (The Knights Templar were called to fight in Spain and Portugal against the muslim armies there)
• trading cities like Pisa and Venice (whose interest in the Mediterranean Sea was not always the same as that of the Knights Templar
• Rivalry with other Crusader Orders (Hospitallers, German Order)
• Different Islamic Leaders (with different strategies and tactics)
• Internal Affairs in the Templars Order not all Grandmasters were good generals

The above factors were responsible for confusion on the battlefield in the theatre of war in The Holy Land.

All in all, the Knights Templar were known by friend and foe as brave and very well disciplined warriors.

Dying in Battle
To be engaged into a fierce battle and then to die was for a Knight Templar the fastest path to God, this was in fact the highest honor he could achieve. This attitude and frame of mind made these Warrior Monks almost fearless and hard to beat and impossible to intimidate. It also expresses their mentality in general. The Knights Templar, The Warrior Monks hardly ever surrendered, they rather died.