Templars (Knights Templar)

The Knights Templar was a medieval Christian military order founded in 1119, originally established to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land after the First Crusade. They became well-known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross. The Templars gained significant wealth and influence, managing extensive assets across Europe. Their role expanded to include banking and providing security for valuable goods. However, in the early 14th century, King Philip IV of France, fearing their power, orchestrated their downfall, leading to their arrest and dissolution by Pope Clement V in 1312, marking the end of their prominence in history.