Hugues de Payens is one of the two founders of the Templars, the founder of the order’s military branch and its Grand Master. He is known chiefly through two graphic marks.
| Type | Character |
| Era | Templar Age (1119–1120 AD) |
| Spanish entry | Hugo de Payns |
History
He founded the Temple together with the king of Jerusalem, who “was not very friendly with Hugo”. The military part of the order is his own foundation. He is “one of the first and most important” Templars and their head: “the Grand Master”, “my leader at this moment” to those under his command.
He made “several visits to the Holy Land”, where he could be met in person; one does not approach him but confronts (“I’ll try to confront Hugo de Payne”) or investigates him. He has a declared alliance with Godfrey.
Formal proceedings exist against him: accusations that can be brought before a court, and investigations of his actions commissioned by the order itself. One voice complains of having been sent to investigate him “knowing that he was not a traitor”.
Marks
- Personal seal: a cross of four degrees on his letters, which identifies his hand; his letters circulate as evidence.
- The square: “that strange square”, a symbol associated with Hugo Pecator, already known to the companions.
Hugo Pecator
Under the name Hugo Pecator operates a declared enemy and killer of witches. Whether Pecator is Hugues de Payens himself, an alias, an epithet (the sinner) or another person is not stated.
Conflicting accounts
On Baphomet:
- One account holds that he “was assembling some Templars who worshiped Baphomet”.
- Another holds that he “wanted to cleanse the order of the worship of Baphomet”.
On his status, he is called both the “current leader / at this moment” and “the last Templar leader… in his time”.
Open questions
- Appearance, age, dress and arms are not recorded.
- His usual residence and whereabouts are not fixed.
- What the four degrees of his cross and the square mean.
- Before which court the accusations are brought, and with what consequences.
- What the alliance with Godfrey concerns, and whether it still holds.
Gallery
