Templar Order

The Templar Order, formally known as the Knights Templar, was a medieval Christian military order founded around 1119. Established to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land after the First Crusade, they gained power and wealth through donations and land holdings. The Templars became known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross and were skilled warriors. They also developed early banking practices to manage their assets. However, by the early 14th century, their influence led to suspicion, culminating in their abrupt dissolution by King Philip IV of France in 1312, often shrouded in legend and conspiracy.