The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar were a medieval Christian military order founded around 1119, during the Crusades, to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. They became known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross and for their skills in battle. The order also developed an early form of banking, allowing safe transfer of funds across Europe. At their height, they held vast wealth and lands. However, in the early 1300s, King Philip IV of France disbanded the order, seizing their assets, partly due to debts owed to them and accusations of heresy. Their legacy remains influential in history and popular culture.