@KAMPA Said 
Originally called Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon. In more modern Times their name has been reduced to the Templars,they were said to be a mendicant order! They most certainly existed,their original reason for coming into existence was escorting pilgrims and merchants to Palestine. The majority of the Templars were Frankish (French)soon after arriving in Palestine they changed the name of the order to Knights of the Hospital of St John and the Temple of Solomon. After the conquest of Palestine and Jerusalem in particular,
the Knights changed it's name to the Kingdom of Outremer,they made their first outpost on the Temple Mount,but soon began building castle fortresses throughout Outremer. In the conquest of Jerusalem it is said that they annhilated the population irrespective of whether Jewish or Muslim.It is suggested that the Templars explored the water tunnels under the Temple Mount and discovered much gold hidden there. This they appropriated unto themselves,and is thought to be the basis for the vast wealth the order had. Eventually they were defeated militarily at the Horns of Hattin,following that battle all of the Crusaders including the Frankish King (a member of the Templar order) began a retreat having been given assurance by Salal Ad Din (Saladin)that they would be safe if they left the country. They finally ended up in one of the Castles they had built at Acre in the Levant,from which they returned to Europe.
Certain bits in this post are very misleading mr Pov.
Nov 19, 2009 @ 13:40:36
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