Knights Templar

The Knights Templar were a medieval Christian military order founded in 1119, originally established to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the Crusades. They became known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross and developed a powerful organization with vast wealth and land. The Templars also established an early form of banking, facilitating safe travel and monetary transactions for pilgrims. By the early 14th century, due to political and financial rivalries, they were suppressed by the French king, leading to their arrest and execution. Today, they are often associated with legends and conspiracy theories.