Founded in 1118 by Hugo de Payens to protect
pilgrims travelling to the
Holy Land.
They became incredibly rich from the
tithe a noble paid to enter the order and their conquests in
Outremer during
the Crusades. Many had
Muslim friends and learnt
medicine and why you should
bathe daily from them.
They only answered to the
Pope and their
Grand Master. Their secret
rituals were
strange. Their
churches were invariably circular.