Random Illuminating Facts About the Knights Templar (10 items)

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  (#4) The Knights Templar Provided the First Commercial Financial Services in Europe

  The Knights Templar started as a monastic order that took a vow of personal poverty. However, the order itself acquired the wealth and assets of its members as well as the spoils of war seized from its Islamic opponents. In its heyday, the Knights Templar had control of over 800 castles that actually served as regional financial institutions.

  Starting in Jerusalem, pilgrims making a journey to the Holy Land would register gold or valuables with their local order and receive a crude form of a modern day "letter of credit." Upon arrival in Jerusalem, the pilgrim would take this letter to the Knights Templar and receive money in the form of gold coins, minus a healthy commission. As the Knights Templar's influence spread throughout Europe, this practice became widespread across the continent. The order also eventually established a system that functioned much like a modern day checking account.   
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  (#6) The Knights Templar Were Ultimately Declared Heretics and Condemned

  In the late twelfth century, Islamic forces eventually retook Jerusalem and expelled any Christian influence. This forced the Knights Templar to return to Europe and reestablish themselves in France. After two centuries of successful financial practices and the acquisition of property bestowed by the Catholic Church and secular European rulers, the order had amassed great wealth. Ultimately, this wealth led to the Knights Templar's undoing.

  Because of their prominence in French society, the Knights Templar lent great sums of money to the French King, Philip IV, who squandered it on ineffectual wars against the English. Eventually, the order refused to lend the king additional sums. In response, Philip devised a plot to destroy the Knights Templar and, in 1307, he declared its members to be heretical and guilty of sorcery and forced the Pope, Clement V, (housed in Avignon, France) to join in the condemnation.

  The Templars' most elite leadership, including "Grandmaster" Jacques DeMolay, were imprisoned, given sham trials, and in the case of DeMolay, burned publicly at the stake in Paris. The Catholic Church ultimately withdrew its recognition of the order and the Knights Templar ceased to exist officially. However, many members fled to various parts of Europe and the allocation of the Knights Templars' vast financial wealth has been a subject of debate for centuries.
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  (#3) The Cross of the Knights Templar Was Designated by the Pope

  Only ten years after the Knights Templar came into existence, they were officially designated as an order of the Catholic Church at the Council of Troyes in 1129. Initially, members of the order were granted the use of white cloaks to be worn over their armor to distinguish their membership. Eventually, Pope Eugene III allowed the use of a simple red cross to symbolize the martyrdom of members who would die defending the faith. There was no single design of the cross, instead, variations of the design would be worn by different chapters of the Knights Templar. These crosses appeared on cloth and were also worn over the armor of a member of the order as well as on flags carried into battle. They were also not to be removed while the owner was awake.
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  (#9) Did Henry Sinclair Beat Columbus to the New World and Was He Involved with the Templars?

  When persecution of the Knights Templar began in France, it is believed that many eventually settled in Scotland. Here some members of the former order are said to have eventually made contact with Prince Henry Sinclair, the Earl of Orkney. Two modern theories about Sinclair have gained attention. One is that Henry Sinclair became affiliated with the Knights Templar himself, the order by now a secret society perpetuated by its formerly official adherents. 

  The second revolves around a trans-Atlantic mission of twelve ships that Sinclair is said to have conducted in 1398, a voyage that resulted in several subsequent artifacts, the most notable the Newport Tower, an ancient structure built near Newport, Rhode Island. This voyage is said to have involved men affiliated with the Templars and to have explored Nova Scotia in great detail. Did the voyagers leave behind a treasure on isolated Oak Island? One problem with this scenario is carbon dating of the Newport Tower has placed its origin at no earlier than 1740.
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  (#2) Their Own Code of Battle Made Them the World's Most Feared Warriors

  Even though they took a vow of poverty, the Knights Templar were still equipped with the finest armor and weaponry available in the Middle Ages. Their rules of engagement called for them to never retreat if their battle standard was upright and visible. They could only leave the battlefield if their flag had fallen and they were outnumbered by at least three to one. 

  The Knights Templar were the medieval equivalent of a modern "shock troop" armored attack, with hundreds of sword-wielding knights, mounted on horseback, attacking rapidly in an organized line. Because they believed they were fighting on behalf of almighty God, the Knights Templar were also convinced that they would be immediately transported to eternal heaven if they were killed in battle. The red cross emblazoned on their shield and tunic was a symbol of martyrdom.
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  (#1) The Knights Templar Were Respected Because of the Vows They Took

  The Knights Templar were essentially monks who vowed perpetual chastity, obedience, and poverty. Although frequently members of the nobility, they gave up any personal wealth to join the order. Their fearlessness in battle and their devotion to Christianity quickly brought them prestige throughout Europe, as well as massive bequests of land and wealth that went to the order, not to the individual Knights. Joining the Knights Templar was difficult; even prestigious nobles were rejected if they had wronged individuals or any member of the Church. The Knights Templar were so respected that important individuals frequently took the order's vows on their deathbed to allow them to be buried in the distinctive habit of white with a red cross.

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