In Praise of the New Knighthood
Bernard of Clairvaux wrote this treatise between 1128 and 1136 as a theological defense of the newly formed Knights Templar, addressing criticisms that arose from their unprecedented combination of monastic vows with military service. The work emerged from Bernard's direct involvement in legitimizing this "new knighthood" that had formed in Jerusalem to protect Christian pilgrims, representing a radical departure from traditional monastic life that required theological justification.
The treatise operates on two complementary levels: practical apologetics and spiritual allegory. Bernard first distinguishes the Templars' sacred warfare from secular knighthood, arguing that their combination of prayer, poverty, and sword service creates a unique form of Christian discipleship. He systematically addresses objections to religious men bearing arms by reframing their violence as both defensive and sacramental—killing enemies of Christ becomes not sin but service. The work then transitions into an extended allegorical meditation on the geography of the Holy Land, transforming each sacred site into a symbol of the Christian's interior spiritual journey from sin through purification to union with God.
The treatise became foundational for medieval just war theory and the theological framework for the Crusades, influencing centuries of Christian thinking about violence, pilgrimage, and the relationship between temporal and spiritual authority. Beyond its historical impact on military religious orders, the work represents Bernard's broader theological method of finding spiritual meaning in material realities, demonstrating how external circumstances can illuminate interior transformation.
Who should read this: Students of medieval Christianity, Crusade history, or the development of just war theory will find this essential primary source material. Those interested in Bernard's theological method and medieval allegory will appreciate the work's spiritual geography, though readers seeking devotional literature may find its military apologetics challenging.