What is Knight Templers?
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Pauperes Commilitones Christi Templique Salomonici, was founded in 1119 by Hughes de Payens. This order was initially established to escort pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, providing them protection against bandits and highway robbers. The Templars quickly gained support from wealthy benefactors due to their monastic vows and service in the Holy Land, leading to their rapid expansion across Europe.
Headquartered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the Knights Templar developed a network of fortresses that allowed them to engage in early banking practices, including a form of traveler’s checks for pilgrims. However, their wealth and power eventually led to their downfall, as they became targets of suspicion and persecution, culminating in their disbandment in 1312 by Pope Clement V under pressure from King Philip IV of France.
In modern times, the legacy of the Knights Templar continues within various Masonic orders, where they are often associated with chivalric ideals and rituals.