Founded in 1119, after the First Crusade, the Order was established to protect pilgrims visiting Christian Holy Lands. Their headquarters was the Al Aqsa Mosque, thought to be built on the ruins of the Temple of Solomon, and they quickly became known as the Knights of the Temple of Solomon.
Over the next two hundred years the Order became extremely wealthy and powerful, but ultimately failed in it’s mission to maintain it’s presence in the Christian Holy Lands. The Order found it increasingly difficult to justify it’s existence and was starting to attract the disfavour of the people. In the early fourteenth century, the King of France accused the Order of the most terrible crimes of religious heresy. Under extreme pressure from the King, the Pope disbanded the Order. In most countries this led to the immediate seizure of land and money, and the arrest and trial of many of the Templars. Most were found innocent of any charge, but in France, senior members of the Order were found guilty and executed.
The shocking downfall of the Order inspired many legends surrounding the Templars, but there is no real evidence to support the theories that the Order ever possessed any religious artefacts such as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail. Today it is widely believed that the King of France made false accusations to enable him to seize the Orders land and money.