Crusaders and Mongols: friends or foes?

In popular Templar literature from time to time publications suggest that there were friendly relationships between the Mongols and the Crusader Christians. Some sources even propose that Jacques de Molay, the last Templar Grand Master was a Mongol warlord. What are the facts?

July 22, 1099 - Godfrey of Bouillon first ruler of Crusader Jerusalem

Godfrey of Bouillon (French: Godefroy, Dutch: Godfried, German: Gottfried, Latin: Godefridus Bullionensis; 18 September 1060 – 18 July 1100) was a French nobleman and pre-eminent leader of the First Crusade. First ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from Juy 22, 1099 to July 18,1100, he avoided the title of king, preferring that of princeps or Defender of the Holy Sepulchre. 

The Templar navy - the later years

It is probably no coincidence that the Templars developed their own fleet shortly after the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), breaking the Italian monopoly. This was fortunate, since it coincided with the decline of naval power in the Islamic world. 

The Templar Order - not a monolithic entity

"The Templar Order was not the monolithic entity which the dearth of internal documents -due to time, neglect, and the violence of its suppression- may imply. At least two extremes vied for control within the Order.