The Only Use of
Knights Templar
in
The Scarlet Letter
- Its ranks were filled with gentlemen who felt the stirrings of martial impulse, and sought to establish a kind of College of Arms, where, as in an association of Knights Templars, they might learn the science, and, so far as peaceful exercise would teach them, the practices of war.†
Chpt 22
Definition:
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(Knights Templar) an order of medieval knights that existed for two centuries after the First Crusade who provided military service and helped to protect European pilgrims to Jerusalemeditor's notes: Economics of the Templars:
For its day, the Templars developed an innovative banking system to help move money and supplies between Europe and Jerusalem and to support pilgrims along the way. During their 200 year history, the Templars became bankers for much of Europe and amassed significant wealth.
When the last Crusade failed, the organization lost much of its luster and King Philip of France pointed to mysterious initiation ceremonies as an excuse to plunder it. In 1307 King Phillip tortured Templars into "confessions" of devil worship and burned them at the stake. He seized most of their property in France. King Edward II followed suit in England.
Modern Templar Organizations:
Some organizations reference the Knights Templar of old, but are not thought to have an unbroken link to it. For example, Freemasons began incorporating Templar symbols and rituals in the 18th century. Their members can aspire to the title "Order of the Knights Templar." Similarly, The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, founded in 1804, has achieved United Nations NGO status as a charitable organization.