This organization existed in the Middle Ages, for about two centuries. Commonly famous as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple, or the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, this Order was the most familiar among the Western Christian military orders.

The Order was established in 1096, after the First Crusade. Its purpose was to ensure safety for the European pilgrims, who came to worship in the Holy Land and the other Holy Places of Jerusalem, after its conquest.

The Order was officially endorsed in 1128, by the Roman Catholic Church. Soon it became a well known and favored charity all over across Europe. It also started growing in power and members amazingly fast.

The distinctive signs and best fighting units among the Crusaders of the Templar Knights, were the red cross and the white mantle. The economic and financial support of the Templar was managed by the non-combatant members. They invented or adapted many forms of the early banking. Another purpose of these members was to build many fortifications across the Holy Land and Europe.

The support for the Order faded, when the Crusaders were defeated and the Holy Land was lost. During this time, rumors appeared, about the secret ceremony for initiation of the knights. This created mistrust in the then time King of France- Philip IV. He had to take the necessary measurements and began to press the then time Pope- Clement V to take some actions.

So, in 1307, the Pope Clement V condemned the members of the Order. The condemn was very heavy- the knights were arrested, made to give false confessions by extremely evil tortures, and then burned at the stake.

After only 5 years, in 1312, again under the pressure of King Philip, the Pope disbanded the Order. Because of the European infrastructure’s major part abrupt disappearance, legends and speculation found place in the mind of the people. Therefore, the name of the “Templar” is kept alive till present.