Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Knights Templar/Archive1

Knights Templar

The page describes a very interesting topic and is a striking example of good writing, the latter being quite the exception in most wikipedia articles. (Nominated by an anon, Dec 4 →Raul654 09:28, Dec 5, 2004 (UTC))

• Object: There are at least three references to the Templars having "connections," and yet these are never explained. There is an assumption that the Templars sort of walked into banking, with no explanation of how this came to be (crusaders need to travel & can't carry their money, so they leave it at one Templar place, get a ticket, and then travel with only the ticket, then withdraw when needed in Jerusalem or Byzantium). The heresy section is tepid on the motives of Philip the Fair, when I'm not sure anyone now doubts that he was making a grab for money and power (and, specifically, Papal power). Some plausible explanations for Baphomet are ignored in favor of some odd ones. References are weak. Templar dissolution was not overnight, but the break up of Templar power was. Discussion and link to Jacques de Molay not present. Council of Vienne not mentioned. The fact that the Hospitallers got the properties (except in Spain and Portugal) not mentioned. Dante as a defender is a sidelight that would be worth noting. Basically, it's a good overview article, but it needs to be more detailed, take its time more, and establish the story step by step. Geogre 03:43, 5 Dec 2004 (UTC)
• Object. Fair, but not quite there. More details on the history of the order during the crusades. References. As a side note, it is not what I would call "a striking example of good writing", either. "What may have been all the Knights Templar in France were simultaneously arrested by agents of Philip the Fair, to later be tortured into admitting heresy" is not the apex of syntactic accomplishment. (but that alone is not sufficient reason to object, of course) Dbachmann 11:39, 6 Dec 2004 (UTC)
• Object. I concur in the points raised by the two previous users and add the following. Significantly more information on the Templars' banking functions is needed. They received money and other gifts, which, being a monastic order, they didn't need to spend. So they saved it in their (very well fortified) castles. Others came to see these castles as excellent depositories and sent their riches there for safe keeping. Jacob1207 02:20, 11 Dec 2004 (UTC)