Bernard of Clairvaux: The Mind Behind the Mission

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was more than a Cistercian monk. He was a theologian, a diplomat, and a spiritual architect of the medieval world. His influence in legitimizing the Knights Templar cannot be overstated.

A relative of Templar founding member André de Montbard, Bernard took a keen interest in the fledgling Order. In 1129, at the Council of Troyes, Bernard delivered a ringing endorsement of the Templars, which helped secure ecclesiastical recognition for the Order. He also authored the influential text “In Praise of the New Knighthood,” defending the concept of warrior-monks and outlining their spiritual significance.

Bernard painted the Templar not as a man of violence, but as a man of God—wielding the sword only to defend the innocent and uphold the faith. His words gave the Order a theological backbone and moral legitimacy, allowing them to grow within the framework of Church authority.

Without Bernard, the Templars may have remained a small band of idealists. With him, they became a sanctioned force of international scope.