Templar+Knights

=**by Chazz**= = = = = =**The Knights Templar**= = = []


 * The Knights Templar, formally known as the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ or the Order of Solomon's Temple, date from 1119 to 1312. The French Knight Hugues De Payens founded the order for the protection of European pilgrims visiting the Holy land. The Templar Knights headquarters was located on the temple mount above the ruins of the Temple of Solomon. Pope Innocent II officially recognized the Templars in 1139. The Pope exempted the Templars from obedience to local laws, taxes, and tithes also now days called offerings. (donations to the church). Therefore, the Templars only answered to the pope (Knights_Templar).**

**Warrior Monks**

 * Templars proteced pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. However, their mission began to rapidly expand after their formation. The Templars assisted the Crusaders in many battles by acting as fearless attackers set out to break the enemy army's front lines. The Templars, heavily armored knights on horseback, led the charge of battle in numerous sieges to soften up the opponents for the Crusaders. In their most famous conflict, the Battle of Mont Gisard, 500 Templars assisted a few thousand Crusaders to defeat Saladin's army numbering 26,000 troops ([|History Knights Templar]).**

**The First Bankers**

 * In addition to military aid, in 1150 the knights began the first banking system. People travelling to the Holy Land would deposit valuables with the Templars at a local office. These people received a document stating the value of their deposit. Upon arriving in the Holy land, the banking document could be used to retrieve their funds in an amount equal to their deposit. This formal system of banking used checks as we use them today (templarhistory).**

**Corporations**

 * The Templars amassed a large amount of wealth through donations and banking, including the original use of charging interest in loans. With this wealth they acquired a large amount of land in Europe and the Holy lands. They bought and ran many large farms and built their own fleet of ships. On these lands they built large stone churches and strongholds. By acquiring these lands in multiple countries the Templar's became the first international business system (Encyclopedia Americana 16 page 509).**

**The Fall**

 * By the early 1300s the Templars amassed great wealth and many countries owed debt to them as well as King Philip IV of France. Due to rumors of corruption and heresy, King Philip and Pope Clement V used these rumors to charge the Templars with crimes against God. On Friday October 13, 1307 Templars across Europe had been arrested from a secret order by Pope Clement V. {This is the possible origin of the Friday the 13 superstition ([|Friday the 13])}. After many trials and executions, Pope Clement officially disbanded the Templars in 1312. Jacques De Molay (Templar Grand Master) was burned on the stake on March 18, 1314 after repeatedly denying the charges against him. Molay's last words were that Pope Clement and King Philip would soon follow him in death specifically in one year. Amazingly, this prophecy held true!**


 * WORKS CITED :**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar

https://www.seasonsepisode.watch/lost-worlds-2005?gclid=CPTz6-

http://www.infobarrel.com/The_truth_behind_Friday_the_13th

[]


 * Encyclopedia Americana 16 page 509**

As well as my Dad