| Record | OBS-0710 |
|---|---|
| Category | Secret Societies/Groups |
| Status | DEBUNKED |
| Summary | A popular theory claims that the Knights Templar survived their suppression and became the basis of Freemasonry. Proponents suggest the Templars went underground and passed on secret knowledge to the Masons. Historical evidence does not support this link. |
| Origin | 18th century, when Freemasons like Andrew Ramsey claimed a Templar ancestry to appeal to the aristocracy. |
| Claimed |
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| Evidence / consensus | Historians agree there is no evidence of a direct connection. The Masonic Knights Templar order is less than 300 years old, while the original Templars were dissolved over 700 years ago. The link was a marketing invention by 18th-century Freemasons. |
Sources are external and provided for verification. Listing does not imply the Observer endorses their claims.