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A famous group of Christian warriors during the Crusades of the middle ages.
A famous group of Christian warriors during the Crusades of the middle ages. Founded in 1118 AD not long after the capture of [[Jerusalem]] by the Christian armies of the West, the Knights Templar took over the site of Solomon's Temple and set up their base in its ruins. Led by Hugh de Payen, they soon attracted the support of rich noblemen all over Europe and were given money and lands, and many people flocked to their ranks to become holy knights.
For nearly two centuries the Knights Templar were famous for their bravery in battle, and earned the respect even of their Muslim enemies. But in 1307 the king of France decided to destroy them and steal their vast wealth. He ordered the Pope to have all the Templars arrested. They were accused of devil worship, of worshipping a demon named Baphomet whose name is a corruption of Mahomet, or Mohammed the god of the Muslims, and it was suspected that they had become secret Muslims while living in the Holy Land. Each of the Templar churches had an idol, or statue of this demon in it. After a great deal of torture the Templars confessed to these crimes, and were burnt at the stake. Their last leader, Jacques de Molay, uttered a curse on the French monarchy as he was burning to death in the middle of Paris.
It is claimed that some groups of Templars excaped to Scotland and secretly founded [[Freemasonry]], but this has recently been denied by the Freemasons themselves.