The loss of acre and the decline of military orders
On May 18, 1291, the three most influential military orders of the time, the Templars, the Hospitalers and those of Sant Sepulcre, experienced a harsh reverse with the fall of Saint John of Acre. This city represented the last bastion of the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem, and its loss symbolized not only a strategic failure but also a deepening in the internal divisions and the lack of coordination between the Christian powers of Europe.
An ambitious plan: The Templar State in Catalonia
In a time of vulnerability, the Temple Order proposed the creation of a new state that united its vast domains in southern Catalonia and the north of the Valencian Country. In order to consolidate their influence, they began an ambitious land concentration plan, which would culminate in the acquisition of the Anglesola feud in 1304, an operation that cost the equivalent of 500,000 morabatins, a colossal amount for the time.
Territory and capitals: the new lines of defense
With this purchase, the Templars reached a territory of almost 8,000 square kilometers, extending from Miravet to the Palms Desert, and from the coast to Mosquerola. Its capital would be located in Culla, while the Alfacs would serve as the main port, thus preparing for future operations that had the goal of recovering the kingdom of Jerusalem.
The reaction of King James II and the consequences
However, the news about the Temple Order project led to great concern in the court of Barcelona. King James II perceived this initiative as a threat to the territorial continuity between Barcelona and Valencia. In response, he began actions against the Templars, although in Catalonia they did not suffer the same luck as in other European countries such as France or England, where they were exterminated.
Templar survival strategy
In Catalonia, the seizure of Templars’s assets was followed by a banishment plan that allowed its escape, making a significant difference in the way the order of the order was managed. Thus, the Templars managed to survive in a hostile environment, while maintaining their identity and goals in a time of great turbulence.
Reflections on historical impact
The fall of Acre and the consequences that derived from it not only marked the end of an age by military orders, but also opened new chapters in the history of Catalonia and their relations with the powerful of the time. This event was a clear reflection of the political and military dynamics of a time when territorial ambitions and religion were intertwined in a complex and fascinating way.
