Hugues de Payens had a stellar career at Templars

Hugues de Payens had a stellar 17-year career as Grand Master of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. He turned out to be a highly competent, efficient and accomplished leader, administrator, diplomat and promoter (salesman of sorts).

He started with only eight knights (probably the members of the team that got Ark of the Covenant); two of whom were brothers and all of whom were his relatives by either blood or marriage. By the time he died in 1136, there were hundreds plus a much higher number of supporting personnel.

In the late 1120s, Hugh of Payens, along with several other Templars, went on a diplomatic mission to western Europe on behalf of Baldwin II. They met with nobles and kings in an attempt to encourage warriors to come to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and join an attack on Damascus Baldwin was planning.

Hugh of Payens used this tour – highly successfully – to raise money (and lands) for the Order and to recruit knights and auxiliaries. On his visit to England and Scotland in 1128, he raised a lot of men and money for the Order, and founded their first House in London and another near Edinburgh at Balantrodoch.

He co-authored (with Bernard of Clairvaux!) the Latin Rule laying down the way of life of the Orde. The Rule was confirmed in 1129 at the Council of Troyes over which a papal legate, sent by Pope Honorius II, presided.

However, his enigma grew only more enigmatic. He reportedly died in 1136, but the circumstances and date of his death are not recorded in any chronicle, though the Templars commemorated him every year on 24 May, and it is presumed that he died of old age.

The 16th-century historian Marco Antonio Guarini claimed that Hugh was buried in the Church of San Giacomo in Ferrara.  He was succeeded as Grand Master by Robert de Craon.

Who was probably even more successful than his predecessor as he was instrumental in getting papal sanction for Knights Templar, making them independent from all ecclesiastical and secular authorities except the Pope.

Interestingly enough, there is no record of Knights Templar taking part in any battle under the leadership of Hugues de Payens…