Black Knights: Forbidden/Forgotten History

Who were the Black Knights really? The term Black Knights are often used in stories like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Along with popular anime like Code Geass. Regardless of how the term is used in modern times. There is more to the Black Knights besides what is used in literature and today's pop culture. There is real history behind the Black Knights. A secret Order that has operated in the shadows in Europe since the Dark Ages. As much as it sounds like a conspiracy theory. There's more than what's in recorded history. Although, archaeologists and historians have limited information about the real Black Knights themselves. Since very little records about their existence have been found. It's safe to assume that many records of the Black Knights were lost to time, or destroyed. As if they were systematically erased from history. Why? What occurred in Medieval Europe hundreds of years ago have left countless questions and far too little answers. All we can do is try to understand the past as best we can. Because as 26th USA President Theodore Roosevelt had once said, "The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future."

The Knights of Medieval Europe

There were many Orders of Knights during the Medieval times. But it's confirmed that 3 of them made the most impact in European history. The Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Knights Hospitaller. The Teutonic Knights were known for their military might. Often focused on converting and conquering Pagan lands. Hospitaller's originally focused on medical practices. Caring for the poor and sick in Jerusalem before becoming a military force. And the Templar's was one of the most wealthy and powerful of the Knightly Orders. Each of these Orders were established within the early to late 12th century. Another Order was built in secret, which were known as the Black Knights. Which existed only as tavern gossip or ghost stories. And they were rarely mentioned directly in history books. But this much is known at least. According to certain records, when the Templar's or other Orders of Knights went into battle. There were occasions when a small army appeared in the night. An army that bore no flags or banners. Just that they were all clad in black armor. And when they rode into battle. They reaped devastation among enemy forces. By the time the Templar's and other military forces came along to investigate the scene. These mysterious black armored men were gone. As if they vanished into thin air. Word of the Black Knights spread all over Europe, from commoner to noble alike. In the battlefield, in the cover of night, the Black Knights would fight like demons. And disappear like ghosts when the chaos dies down. However, unlike most Knightly Orders, who answer to kings or the Vatican. The Black Knights answered to no-one. They were their own independent organization. One that owed no pledge to any ruler, church, or nation. Which made them dangerous from a political and religious point of view.

The Power of the Black Knights

While the exact origins of the Black Knights remain a mystery to even the most accomplished historians on Medieval Europe. However, they could potentially shift the balance of power in all of Europe in the shadows if they wanted to. But they didn't... Because they put what power they had toward a different purpose. Unlike the other Orders, the Black Knights kept true to the purpose for which they were built. Which is to guard and protect secrets that could cause untold damage in the wrong hands. Upset the balance of power in Medieval Europe. Especially with the strong influence of religion by the Vatican church. Any typical European Knight Order often gets their recruits from the nobility. Basically, the sons of wealthy families who were born and bred in a life of luxury. But the Black Knights were more selective in their recruitment process. Along with fully capable battle forged fighters. They also welcomed merchants and scholars to their ranks. The Black Knights had a smaller number of members than most other Knight Orders. But they were just as powerful as the Templars in one form or another.

Treasure(s) of the Black Knights

Even during the Dark Ages, various organizations required funding to be operational. If you've seen movies like National Treasure, from 2004. Then this should help make it easy to understand. The Knights Templar may have been the wealthiest Knight Order in their time. But they didn't start out that way. They were funded directly by royals and the Vatican church donations. But those funds increased during the Holy Crusades between the years of 1095 to 1291. With every city the Templars conquered. Their treasure grew considerably larger. But while Templar Knights were raiding the treasuries of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and other ancient cites. The Black Knight secured funding for their Order that required less bloodshed. With scholars among their ranks. They located and discovered long forgotten tombs from ancient times. Stores of gold, gems, and countless priceless artifacts that predate eras before Christianity itself. Other than treasures that were forgotten or lost to history. The Black Knights may have secured funding in other ways. Since some of their members may have included merchants. It was safe to assume that various guilds or companies have provided a legit and functioning business fronts. Merely a hypothesis since the Black Knights often carried out their work in secret. And as a secret Order, the Black Knights started off as an independent organization. And had to generate the funds needed to remain so on their own. Since they had no king or church to back them up financially. But the real treasure of the Black Knights wasn't gold, silver, or precious stones. It was knowledge... Knowledge that would threaten the very foundation of Medieval politics and the religious influence of the Vatican. Scientific advancements that were forgotten or lost to history. Chapters of the Bible that the Vatican would horde or burn. Or even conspiracy theories like the bloodline of Jesus Christ for example. The Black Knights made it their mission to not only seek this knowledge out. But also to guard and protect it until the time is right to release it to the world.

The Black Knights Fall and Templar War

By the early 14th century, the Knights Templar have grown considerably powerful. So much so that King Philip IV of France and the Vatican's Pope Clement V feared that the Templars would turn on them. The combined wealth and military power the Templars have gradually acquired perceived them to be a threat. That they could break free from royal and church power and act as an independent Order of Knights. So King Philip and Pope Clement conspired to destroy the Templar Order. But they couldn't do so thoughtlessly. Because they viewed the Templars to be as powerful as the Black Knights themselves. But the Templars still considered themselves as loyal servants to the Church. Despite all their wealth and power. And that's what the Vatican took advantage of. Pope Clements V sent the Knights Templar to wage war on the Black Knights themselves. Branded them heretics and ordered them to be destroyed in the name of God. A bloody war was waged in the shadows. And the Black Knights were forced to fight back in a war they couldn't win. But they couldn't allow their hard earned knowledge to be destroyed or misused by corrupt officials. So they gathered their books, scrolls, manuscripts, and artifacts to hide them in secret locations. And the surviving members of the Black Knights vanished into the shadows of history. After the shadow war ended, King Philip and Pope Clements had the weakened surviving Templars arrested and executed for heresy on October 13, 1307 on a Friday.

Black Knights Gone or Forgotten?

After King Philip IV and Pope Clements V executed the Knights Templar. What happened to the remaining Black Knights? Any records of their existence are up for debate among modern historians and conspiracy theorists. Because the Vatican's papal authority had the records burned or stored away in the Vatican's Archives. Attempting to erase the Black Knights from the memory of the masses. From the lowest commoner to the wealthiest kings. As if they never existed at all. Just wiped away from the pages of history. So what really happened to the surviving Black Knights? Were they all hunted down and killed? Or did their knowledge die out with them? Over the centuries, the Vatican has maintained their political pull with a religious influence. During the 14th and 17th centuries, or better known as the Renaissance period. The practically forgotten influence of the Black Knights slowly leaked out. Brilliant artists like Leonardo da Vinci and scientific advancements by Copernicus. And even the discovery of the North and South America's by Christopher Columbus. It may sound like an insane conspiracy theory. But it also makes some small sense. Even after a crippling defeat by the Vatican. The Black Knights managed to achieve their greatest victory. One that would take a great deal of time to accomplish. Even if they were forever erased from history. It didn't really matter to them. They devised a plan that would take centuries to bare into fruition. The plan was to slowly introduce their knowledge to the world bit by bit. Even if the process required entire generations to dedicate their lives to it completely. Which leaves some very important questions. Are the Black Knights really truly gone? Or are they still very much intact and operating in secret?

There is no way of knowing for sure.