Hugh of Champagne was the real first Grand Master

To protect the Ark of the Covenant, it was necessary to protect the whole Outremer (Crusader States). To protect the Outremer, it was necessary to have a sizable standing army – a military order. This army was – first and foremost – to protect a holy (the most sacred) religious object – so it had to be a religious order.

Consequently, to found and build such an order, one had to be competent in creating, growing and managing both military and religious orders. Hugues de Payens was definitely not – so he could NOT have been the founder of Knights Templar. Or its Grand Master during the first crucial years, for that matter.

But Hugh of Champagne was. He was the Count of both Champagne and Troyes so he – like all other counts – had his very own standing army. And thus, had extensive experience managing a military unit.

His relative and partner was no other than Bernard (founder and abbot of Clairvaux abbey) so Hugh had extensive knowledge about founding and managing a monastic order.

To grow to the necessary size (necessary for protecting the Ark of the Covenant and the Outremer that is), Knights Templar needed money (money proper and money-generating assets such as land) and manpower.

To get money and assets – and recruit the necessary personnel – a highly efficient promotion campaign was needed. Campaign led by someone with sufficient clout and connections to convince men (of all kinds) to join Knights Templar – and secular and ecclesiastical lords to donate money and land. Hugh of Champagne had this cloud and connections – and Hugues de Payens did not.

Consequently, it appears that during the first five years the latter (coached by Hugh of Champagne and assisted by professionals) tried to build Knights Templar as both the military and religious order while Hugh of Champagne embarked on a massive promotion campaign in Europe.

The latter was very successful while the former… not so much. Consequently, Hugh of Champagne had no other choice but to leave Europe for good, come to the Holy Land, officially join Knights Templar and become their de-facto Grand Master.

Hugues de Payens remained nominal (de jure) Grand Master until 1136 when Hugh of Champagne forced him into retirement… somewhere and replaced him as the nominal Grand Master by far more able and successful Robert de Craon.