Grand Masters of the Knights Templar

Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (also known as the Knights Templar), starting with founder Hugues de Payens in 1118. While many Grand Masters chose to hold the position for life, abdication was not unknown. Some masters chose to leave for life in monasteries or diplomacy. Grand Masters often led their knights into battle on the front line and the numerous occupational hazards of battle made some tenures very short. 
Each country had its own Master, and the Masters reported to the Grand Master. He oversaw all of the operations of the Order, including both the military operations in the Holy Land and eastern Europe, and the financial and business dealings in the Order's infrastructure of western Europe. The Grand Master controlled the actions of the order but he was expected to act the same way as the rest of the knights. After the Pope issued a Papal Bull on behalf of the Templars, the Grand Master was obliged to answer only to Rome.
== List of Grand Masters ==
1. 		Hugues de Payens 	1118-1136
2. 		Robert de Craon 	1136-1147
3. 		Everard des Barres 	1147-1149
4. 		Bernard de Tremelay 	1149-1153
5. 		André de Montbard 	1153-1156
6. 		Bertrand de Blanchefort 	1156-1169
7. 		Philippe de Milly 	1169-1171
8. 		Odo de St Amand 	1171-1179
9. 		Arnold of Torroja 	1181-1184
10.		Gerard de Ridefort 	1185-1189
11.		Robert de Sablé 	1191-1193
12.		Gilbert Horal 	1193-1200
13.		Phillipe de Plessis 	1201-1208
14.		Guillaume de Chartres 	1209-1219
15.		Pedro de Montaigu 	1218-1232
16.		Armand de Périgord 	1232-1244
17.		Richard de Bures (Disputed)	1244/5-1247 Armand de Périgord was either killed or captured at the battle of La Forbie; authorities differ. Richard de Bures commanded the Templars until the election of Guillame de Sonnac; whether he was Grand Master is disputed. See here
18.		Guillaume de Sonnac 	1247-1250
19.		Renaud de Vichiers 	1250-1256
20.		Thomas Bérard 	1256-1273
21.		Guillaume de Beaujeu 	1273-1291
22.		Thibaud Gaudin 	1291-1292
23.		Jacques de Molay 	1292-1314
==Notes==
== See also ==
*List of Knights Templar
*Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights
*Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller
==External links==
*The Crusades Wiki
Category:Lists of Roman Catholics
Grand Master of the Knights Templar
 
cs:Velmistři řádu templářů
el:Μεγάλοι Μάγιστροι των Ιπποτών του Ναού
es:Anexo:Grandes Maestres del Temple
fr:Liste chronologique des maîtres de l'ordre du Temple
it:Gran Maestri dell'Ordine templare
mk:Голем мајстор на витешкиот ред Темплари
nl:Grootmeester van de Orde van de tempeliers
pl:Wielcy mistrzowie zakonu templariuszy
ro:Marii Maeştri ai Ordinului Templierilor
ru:Список великих магистров ордена тамплиеров
sk:Zoznam veľmajstrov Rádu templárov