Knights Templar in England

The Knights Templar was a medieval Christian military order founded in the early 12th century, originally to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. They became known for their distinctive white mantle with a red cross, and they established a network of fortifications and religious sites across Europe, including England. The order gained wealth and power through donations and banking, which later made them targets of suspicion. In 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered their arrest, leading to the dissolution of the order in 1312 by Pope Clement V, marking the decline of their influence in England and beyond.