The sport and physical activities in the Rule of Templar. Some references to the spanish case

Abstract

The Order of Templar was recognized by the Church in 1128 and suppressed in 1312. The Order, created to defend the Holy Land roads from Muslims attacks, followed the ascetic rules of the Cistercian Order and the organizational rules of the Augustinians one. Its main feature was that it was made upo of cambatant knights, their activities being far away from those of other traditional Orders, devoted to prayer and contemplation. Their rapid growth and difusión (Holy Land and Europe) helped Templars to impose a series of action patterns on the whole society. They made up a powerful army ready to figth with a most efficient rearguard in Europe providing for all their needs.

The need for a hierarchical structure and for every knight to keep fit bring about a full set of rules covering every aspecto of life: The Latin Rule (1128), traslated into French (c.1140), the Retractions (c.1156), setting up their customs and traditions, the Hierarchical Statutes (1230-1240) and the Considerations (1257-1267), all are documents in which there are detailed reference to physical activity and to the attitude those warrior-monks should adopt with regards to sports and games (horse riding, falconry, hunting, chess…) and to personal equipment, armaments and preparation for combat.