Knights+Templar

** __The Knights Templar__ **


 The Templar's were a powerful order suppressed in 1200 A.D by the Pope. Their main headquarters to today was called the "Convent of Christ in Castle Tomar". It was built in 1160 as a stronghold for the Knights Templar, but later became the headquarters of the "Order of Christ". It was an international philanthropic chivalric affiliated with freemasonry.They were originally founded by nine Knights where now there main headquarters can be found in Portugal. Ten percent of the Templar's were knights. Which is how they got there symbol of two men riding one horse to represent their vow of poverty. Some people think it also may mean that it represents all the conflict that existed during the order. There flag is half white, half black, and a red plus-sign in the middle. The peak of their population was only 15000-20000. The most cruelty to them at the time was France. The battle of Acre was the first confrontation of the Third Crusade.They were a hierarchy where the Grand Master was the supreme authority of the Templar order. Their was a Grand Master in each country and the average life time for a Grand Master was usually short because most of them were killed in battle.

The central focus of the Templar military tactics was to charge with heavy cavalry. This was supported by mounted sergeants and then prepared for by the infantry. Yet, the "knight" was found as the most devastating weapon which is why the Templar's had 10 percent of their population knights. Ten to twenty knights formed a banner, ten to twenty banners formed a squadron, and ten to twenty squadrons formed a "battle". They were known for protecting the pilgrims and the Holy Sepulcher, until rumors were made about them so that they would be hated. They were involved in many wars because they were said to take over Christianity. The most cruelty to them was in France. Pope Clement then called for papal hearings to determine the Templar's guilt, or innocence. Some had sufficient legal experience to defend themselves in trials, but in 1310 King Philip blocked this attempt, using the previously forced confessions to have dozens of Templars burned at the stake. Over were 200 beheaded and burned.

Works Cited 
 *  Birch, Dinah, ed. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. N.p.: Oxford University Press Inc., n.d. N. pag. Oxford Reference Online. Web. 8 Apr. 2010. .
 *  “Christians Last Middle Eastern Stronghold Conquered, May 1291.” DIScovering World History. Detroit: Gale, 2003. N. pag. Student Resource Center. Web. 25 Mar. 2010.Lexicon.
 *  “File:TmeplarFlag6.svg.” Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. .