History of the Knights Templar

In 1118 AD, the Knights Templar were founded by a small number of French knights who wanted to devote themselves to protecting pilgrims en route to the Holy Land.

In 1129 AD, the Knights Templar were established as a holy order by the Pope. The Vatican granted the Templars the right to the spoils taken in battle, ordered the clergy to protect them, and gave them exemption from the payment of tithes.

Individual Templars could have no worldly possessions of their own, so as others wished to join the order, their property passed to the order, which soon became vastly wealthy.

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