dynamic

Page Numbers by Book Edition

dynamic
toggle menu
menu
vocabulary
1000+ books
All 50 Uses of

Knights Templar
in
The Da Vinci Code

Click For
Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources
Definition:
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 Jerusalem
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.