The “Knighting Ceremony” of the Knights Templar is the subject of much speculation, fueled by diverse revivalist fantasies. The many various ceremonies with “Templar” styled themes, which were invented and widely popularized by 15th-19th century private fraternities, in fact were never used by the original 12th century Order of the Temple of Solomon. Such ceremonies are typically relied upon for “bragging rights” of who are “Real Templars” more than and superior to others, apparently based upon which group has more elaborate practices.
Grandiose and elaborate ceremonies, relying on multiple “props” of ceremonial objects, long incantations, and sometimes showy displays of artificial humility such as “vigils” and “fasting” and prolonged “prostrating”, are all anathema to the authentic doctrines and medieval monastic simplicity of the genuine Orders of Chivalry.
Indeed, the Temple Rule of 1129 AD required all Templars to live with “restraint” and “moderation” (Rule 15), “without any arrogance and without any show of pride” (Rules 18-19), and commanded to “not become proud” even in one’s expressions of apparent humility (Rule 34) [7].
Authoritative experts in Chivalry confirm that elaborate ceremonies were never required, and could never substitute for full chivalric legitimacy under customary law: “In the Middle Ages knighthoods were frequently conferred on the battlefield. The knight elect knelt before the commander of the army, who struck him with the sword… whilst uttering words such as ‘Avancez Chevalier au nom de Dieu’ [‘Rise Knight in the name of God’].” [8] This highlights, as a historical fact, that it was the strength of legitimacy of a chivalric Order which allowed it to use cursory and informal investiture ceremonies.
In traditional British Royal Chivalry, as practiced in Buckingham Palace to this day, the Investiture Ceremony for Knighthood and Damehood is simple and direct, following the “short form” used in medieval battlefield conditions: A new Knight “kneels with his right knee upon the investiture stool”, receives the accolade of dubbing “with the investiture sword… then stands to the left of the stool and is invested with the insignia”. A new Dame does not kneel and is not dubbed with a sword, but is “presented” with Damehood by “placing the correct decoration [insignia] on a cushion”. [9]
Scholars of canon law documented that in most medieval chivalric Orders, the “investiture… took place under a severe and solemn ceremony in Church, in the presence of a Bishop or the Grand Master”. If a Bishop was not available, he could be substituted with an Abbot or Prelate. “After taking the Vows and completion of other formalities the [new] Knight was given the… military [regalia]”. [10]
However, the Ecclesiastical Dubbing of Knighthood was only performed by Clergy for the Vatican’s own in-house chivalric Orders under dependent Patronage of the Church, and was essentially in the form of a Blessing [11]. In Sovereign Orders for which the Vatican had recognized independence, such as the Order of the Temple of Solomon (by the Papal Bull Omne Datum Optimum of 1139 AD), the Church did not conduct the Investiture Ceremony, but only provided supplemental Blessing by the 13th century liturgy Benedictio Novi Militis (“Blessing of New Knights”) [12].
The Investiture Ceremony of the Order of the Temple of Solomon is usually held in a cooperating Church or private Chapel affiliated with a Templar Commandery, at a Templar Pilgrimage site, or in other sacred spaces attended by Knights and Dames who are Crown Officers of the Order authorized to give Investiture. The ceremony can be given at a convocation event for large or small groups, or for individuals as needed.
The authentic Templar Investiture Ceremony includes the traditional Blessing of Chivalry, which is compatible with interfaith and non-denominational practice, administered by canonical Templar Clergy, who can also be Apostolic Bishops (upon request, subject to availability).
As in the British tradition, the Templar Investiture is simple and direct, meaningful, brief and convenient. Reflecting true monastic simplicity, it is spiritually pure. While differing versions may be used as appropriate for various situations, the Templar Ceremony is always carefully reconstructed from the original 12th century practices, as evidenced by the historical record.
Accordingly, the authentic Templar Investiture Ceremony is always comfortable, respectful, dignified and suitable for “VIP” figures and people of all ages, and is compatible with all denominations and even with other religions outside Christianity.
For those reasons, the original Templar knighting ceremony was requested and given to the honoured and feared Muslim Sultan General Salahadin ca. 1190 AD [13], which served as the key step in establishing the peace treaty between the Templars and the Saracens, the Treaty of Ramla of 1192 AD [14] [15].
The modern version of the traditional “battlefield conditions” can be medical, political or economic restrictions preventing travel to a location or event to receive Investiture, or can be some urgency during the course of active cooperation on a Templar humanitarian mission, by which making the nobiliary Knighthood or Damehood official without delay is expected to substantially help to achieve successful results of the mission.
The modern equivalent of the traditional “short form” Investiture under “battlefield conditions” is actually the full Templar Investiture Ceremony, administered by live interaction through telecommunications (preferably video conference, or by telephone) with a Crown Officer from the Grand Mastery of the Order. This practice as an exception is authentic to the historical principles, canonically valid, and also scripturally sound, as the Templar Vow of Chivalry is sworn (affirmed) directly to God, and not merely to the Order. This allows for the official certificate to be issued and delivered without delay. In such cases, it is expected that the new Knight or Dame will receive Investiture personally at a Templar event or site, at the first available opportunity. Read more:
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