Bernard and Hugh Decided to Found Templars order

Bernard of Clairvaux was determined to never let the Ark of the Covenant fall into wrong (i.e., Muslim) hands. Hugh of Champagne concurred, obviously.

After Bernard of Clairvaux decided (and Hugh of Champagne concurred) that the Ark had to be kept secret – for the good of the Church and the Christendom (it was a no-brainer, actually), they faced a genuinely existential question:

 How to protect this – the most sacred, holy and valuable – object?

Hugh (most likely) came with the idea of creating a military order (order of knights) specifically for this purpose… however, there was a problem. A very serious problem: it was not enough to protect the Ark – or even Jerusalem. You had to protect the whole Outremer – all Crusader states.

Consequently, it was necessary to create a military force of shock troops – special formations created to lead military attacks of Christian “regular” forces. Shock troops sufficiently fierce, motivated and professional to all but guarantee Christian victory in just about every battle.

Bernard of Clairvaux agreed – but insisted that it must be a religious military order (because it was supposed to protect a religious object). And that it had to be independent from all authority (except Papal) – to keep the Ark secret.

Hugh of Champagne concurred… and partners went to work. In a few short years they arranged for local recognition of Knights Templar (by Council of Nablus); global (by Council of Troyes); got them headquarters on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; arranged for their independence from secular and ecclesiastical authorities… and even for Templars to have their own priests and build their own churches. And, of course, raised enough money, personnel and land.

Most likely, it was decided that the order will be founded by the members of the team that located and got out the Ark of the Covenant. For a number of reasons (he had many other things to take care of), Hugh of Champagne decided not to become the official (de-jure) Grand Master of Knights Templar – so they made Hugues de Payens the nominal first Grand Master instead.

Neither Bernard nor Hugh ever uttered even a single word about protecting the Christian pilgrims…