Key points:
Origins: Founded by Hugues de Payens in Jerusalem, endorsed by the Catholic Church in 1129.
Role: Protected pilgrims, fought in Crusades, and developed an early banking system for safely transferring funds.
Wealth and Power: Owned vast estates, built fortifications like the Temple Mount, and lent money to kings, making them a powerful institution.
Downfall: In 1307, King Philip IV of France, heavily indebted to them, accused them of heresy. The order was suppressed by Pope Clement V in 1312, and many Templars were arrested, tortured, or executed.
Legacy: Their secrecy and wealth fueled myths, linking them to legends like the Holy Grail or Freemasonry, though much is speculative.