The Knights Templars was a religious military order whose secrets and wealth destroyed the organization. The order had several names, and the members had several titles. The Knights Templars started out as a small group of monks. Members had duties and certain lifestyles as Templars. The order rapidly spread across Europe. During the second crusade, the Templars fought for the Christian effort. After the second crusade the knights became very powerful and wealthy. The order was destroyed, yet it still lives on today. The Knights Templars were hidden in darkness and secrecy, and they will always remain a mystery."The Holy Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon" is the full name of the Order. Most paraphernalia refer to them as the Knights Templars. Some call the members just Templars, or warrior monks. "The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon" is another name used. People back in the time of the crusade would have called them heroes. After the first crusade two new military orders arose in Jerusalem. One, the Knights Hospitallers, or Knights of Saint John, whose task was to aid the wounded in Outremer, or the "land across the sea". Saint John's Ambulance Service derives from the Hospitaller legend. The second military order to arise was the Knights Templars, whose duty was to defend the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. In 1118 Hugues de Payan and eight fellow knights went to Jerusalem and offered their services to the king, Baldwin 1. King Baldwin offered housing to the knights at the former mosque al-Aqsa, which was located on the site of King Solomon's great temple. The order received its name from this fact. Templars took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the Grand Master, or president. Each Templar wore a typical white robe with the red Maltese cross insignia. Chainmail armor was worn in battle. The Templars fought bravely against the Saracens, not...
