The Knights Templar

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"Founded in the early twelfth century, the Knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon united the knightly and religious roles which were at the core of medieval society. Bernard of Clairvaux played a part in drawing up the Rule of the Order, and the knights wore white cloaks to symbolise their dedication to chastity. However, many contemporaries said that money was their only love. They were involved in banking and commercial concerns that brought huge wealth, and were confidants to kings and popes. Indeed, Henry II entrusted to them the money he was forced to pay in expiation for the murder of Thomas Becket, which was to support 200 knights in the Holy Land for a year. But this wealth, combined with the failure of the Crusades in the Holy Land, led to their downfall, as Philip IV of France used the Order's shortcomings as a pretext for accusing the brothers of heresy. In 1307 the Brothers of the Order were arrested and charged with denying Christ, spitting on the crucifix, indecency and idol worship. The trial lasted until 1312, when the Order was dissolved. How did this respected religious Order, which had operated in the Holy Land and throughout Europe for over two hundred years, meet such a undignified end?"--Jacket