Recently the rediscovered Chinon Parchments in the Vatican Archives showed that Pope Clement V had absolved the Templars of their heresy. WI this document had been made public and was enough to usurp King Phillip VI's of France's efforts to destroy the order (and steal their assets)?
- How would the order cope in with the growing European nationalism, Church Universalism and (eventually) the Renaissance?
- Continuing in all but name in Portugal the Templars (now the Order of Christ) contributed greatly to Portugal's sea faring prowess eventually leading onto the Age of Discovery. (Vasco da Gama was a member of this order and bore the Templars' red cross on his sails). Could the Templars in their own right establish territories in Asia, Africa and elsewhere in the New World establishing and maintaining themselves in fortifications and commandaries as they did in Outreamer and elsewhere? What would this mean in terms of the Muslim expansion and trade into the (Dutch West) Indies?
- THe Pope sought to reform the order by amalgamating it with the St John Hospitallers. If this occurred, they would add the strongholds of Rhodes and Malta to their territories. What would this mean in terms of the balance of power in the Mediterranean especially in light of the advancing Ottoman Empire?
- Having maintained sympathies in Aragon, what role may the Templars assume in defending the true faith. For example could they play a significant role in renewing Catholicism under Phillip of Spain? Would they need to eventually divest their interests in Britain in the face of growing persecution? Could they play a significant role in the Great Armada? Could a purifying Crusade be mounted in Europe against the heretics in the guise of the Protestant movement ?
- Could they fulfill their ultimate goal of regaining the Holy Lands with a strong and resurgent order funded by their assets in Europe and in the New World?
Justa Thought
