Following Orders

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

Follow a path of piracy and heresy no doubt....

[Lord Clisto of York]

This movie has been filled with delays from the beginning. I think all of us have been waiting a LONG time for it. I just hope they do it justice after all this time. At least Season of the Witch will be a fun one out in a few weeks. Since my birthday is January 3rd, it will be a gift of sorts to go see it.

Lord Clisto

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

Today in Medieval Crusading History:

31 December

1229 – James I of Aragon the Conqueror enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma, Spain) thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Majorca.

See more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_I_of_Aragon

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

Item rescinded 04/05/2011 Anno Domini

[SirMichael]

Brother Warrior Monk,

I wish thee well and safe journey on your quest. Just like in the Army, never farewell, just till we post again.

Happy New Year to you and your family from I and my family.

Sir Michael of Mentor

[Sir William Marcus]

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we all decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

[Hospitaller]

Retired? Over? Leave of forums? But....but....but.....Sheesh, one of the main reasons to log on every couple of days was to read the daily Crusading History!  Wish you well on your further adventures in life, Brother.

[Sir Samuel]

I too will miss these wonderful pieces of History. Brother Monk you will be dearly missed good brother.

[Lord Magnus]

Retired? Over? Leave of forums? But....but....but.....Sheesh, one of the main reasons to log on every couple of days was to read the daily Crusading History!  Wish you well on your further adventures in life, Brother.

Well said!

[Lord Clisto of York]

Hail, Brothers,

For those of you who are not aware, there is a NEW hard cover history book out on Amazon called "The Illustrated History of the Knights Hospitaller" by Stephen Dafoe. Not only is there a picture of Sir Marcus on the cover in the upper part of the cross, but on page 26 there is one of him, his brother and me as well. It was a picture taken of Sir Marcus and his brother Sir Joseph of Indiana as Hospitallers with me Lord Clisto in the middle as King Richard I, out in a field at Fishers Renaissance Faire in 2009 with my camera. It also has a great caption. The book came out last October but we didn't know. It is a well done hard cover reference on the Hospitallers in full color on heavy glossy paper. Link to the book is below on Amazon. Huzzah!!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=illustrated+history+of+the+knights+hospitaller




Lord Clisto - God Wills It!!

[Hospitaller]

Thank you for the tip, Lord Clisto. I will have to add that one to my collection.

[Lord Clisto of York]

Here is another book just discovered by Brother Cliff de Beaumanoir, with Brother Joseph Metz in it. The book is a great book for children called "Knights, The Age of Armored Warriors." He is picture here in two different looks as a Hospitaller and Teutonic knight.

HUZZAH Joe!!!

Lord Clisto

[Lord Clisto of York]

"Last Stand of the Templars" on National Geographic Channel

Monday April 4th at 9pm

The Templars were considered the pope's private army, protecting Jerusalem for more than 50 years. But their legacy came to a sudden end casting them from the heights of wealth and power to the dark corners of history. Now, on the ruins of a 12th century castle near the border between what are now Israel and Syria, a team of archaeologists peel away centuries of sediment, uncovering signs of a six-day siege that could have led to the Templars' demise.

Read more: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/5081/Overview#ixzz1IRBU7TP4

Lord Clisto

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

First off, I thought this was a good show. It's the first in a long time that had Subject Matter Experts talking on it; Wasserman and Ashbridge, that I think credible, and not the Karen Ralls that gets thrown in to develop some sort of lasting conspiracy.

This is a different filming of the Battle of Jacob's Ford that I had a movie for that I found back in 06-07. For those interested, NATGEO will be releasing a DVD of this episode at the end of this month. You can bet it will end up in my collection.

Now on to some of the items that I wanted to address.

The documentary mentioned Templar Master Odo de St Amand, but failed to give any real detail about him. An Organization like the Templars, would tend to reflect the character of the Master, as they answered to his direction. Odo was a definite stud, if you take a look at his final time on earth. He refused to be ransomed and died in prison. More than we can say for another Master a few years later. They failed to mention that he participated in the battle of Montgisard. This was the 16 year King Baldwin's finest military action against the soon to be legendary Saladin.

They mentioned and from my view point, insinuated about a Templar agenda with regards to money. This story line seems to be the most popular. The Poor Knights of Christ, not so poor as a whole but individually very Spartan. People must understand that fighting wars or policing areas requires funds to support those who will do it. There's a whole logistical effort that goes into supporting efforts like these, from food and clothing, to outposts and information. Nothing in this or that world comes or came free.

As for the banking efforts of the Temple, that too was sure to rouse anger and suspicion. When you're the only effort in town to support a concept, then you by default have a captive audience and clientele base. Until someone else comes along with a similar or better system, costs won't go down. And as armor and weapons improved, their cost goes up, thus forcing the Temple to meet the demands of purchase.

They mentioned that the Master Odo refused to be bought out when Saladin offered a heavy price in dinar for the castle at Jacob's ford. This in my opinion is simple economics and tactical/strategic awareness. Ask yourself if you would accept a lump sum payment, compared to long term annuities being paid to you. Although the immediate price tag looks good, over the long term, since the site sat on a trade route, they would have made more, or possibly cut a toll deal for unmolested passage. From a tactical/strategic viewpoint, they knew that if they sold the fortification, and it was occupied by Saladin and his forces, all the considerations I just mentioned would have been reversed. And when your opponent offers to buy you out, he's usually acting from a weaker position, whether it be strength, lack of operational commitment (soldiers then operated around harvest schedules), or knowing he was going up against Christianity's shock troops. Here as well as later, Saladin would make it a point to "make a statement to Christianity and the West" by having Warrior Monks slaughtered. If your best can't win, then who can.....

All in all, I enjoyed it very much. The actors were obviously local hires, and costumes mixed and matched. Combat scenes were typical documentary types. They did nail the hair standards correctly for the Brethren!

It scheduled to come on again tonight, and a few more nights as well.

+nnDnn+

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

Today in Medieval Crusading History:

13 April

1204 – Constantinople falls to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, temporarily ending the Byzantine Empire.

See more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Crusade