A
legendary order of Crusading Knights, the Templar Order was
founded in 1128, and became one of the most powerful organizations in the
world. Best known as the founders of the modern banking system, the Tempars
were a monastic order charged with protecting pilgrims on route to the Holy Land.
The
Templars were disbanded on orders of the Pope, and their leader burned
at the stake by the French King Phillip IV in
1307. Although Philip was motivated by rumors of the Templars' immense wealth,
and hoped to fill his coffers after the Templar trials, the money was never
seen again, founding hundreds of years of rumors and treasure hunts.
One theory about
Templar treasure claims that the Swedish Banking system has its origin with
escaped Templar, who used the money to finance it.
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