Knights Templar
The Knights Templar or, more properly, The Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, were formed around the year 1118 CE, when nine pious knights, led Hugues de Payens and his relative Godfrey de Saint-Omer, arrived at the gates of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, and offered themselves as protectors of the faithful. They announced that they had taken the solemn vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, as well as a fourth, perpetual vow to protect pilgrims on their journey from the coast to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Baldwin, impressed with the knights fervor, quartered them in the eastern part of his castle, an area where the Temple of Solomon once stood.
History
The heroic and romantic ideal presented by nine fervent knights dedicated to defending innocents in the Holy Land captured the imagination of nobles and commoners, both. The ranks of the Knights Templar began to swell with those who felt their stated mission a noble one, and they were showered with financial support from noble houses throughout Europe. In addition, the Order was given a papal blessing, a rare honor that only served to further cement their cause. As the wealth and power of these highly trained fighters grew, their activities expanded from the simple task of protecting pilgrims to become the militant arm of the Holy Catholic Church.
In less one hundred years, the Knights Templar developed into one of the wealthiest and most influential entities in Europe, second only to the Papacy itself. The Order owned huged tracts of land in England, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Austria. Owing to a huge network of territories and castles, they established themselves as histories first internaltional bankers, arranging loans for bankrupt royal houses throughout Europe, safeguarding the personal wealth of pilgrims, and effectively inventing the concept of the traveler's check.
Demise
In the thirteenth century the Muslim armies retook Jerusalem and the Crusaders retreated from the Holy Land. The Templars were the last to leave, with a defeat at Acre in 1291 CE. The Order no longer had a purpose in the Holy Land, and had made many enemies throughout their long reign. The wealth and power that they had amassed had alienated many royal houses, as well as the Papcy itself. In particular, the King of France and the Papacy conspired to bring down the Templars, so as to take control of their huge wealth and extensive holdings.
On Friday October 13, 1307 CE, King Philip IV of France ordered Jaques de Molay, then Grandmaster of the Templar Order, as well as scores of other French Templars to be simultaneously arrested. The Templars were charged with numerous heresies and tortured to extract false confessions of blasphemy. The confessions, despite having been obtained under duress, caused a scandal in Paris. After bullying by Philip, Pope Clement issued the bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae on November 22, 1307, which instructed all Christian monarchs in Europe to arrest all Templars and seize their assets.