Knights Templar & the Banker's Cheque

[Purple Lord]

Although the primary mission of the order was militaristic, relatively few members were combatants, the others acted in support positions to assist the knight's and to manage the financial infrastructure.

The Templar order, though it's members were sworn to individual poverty, was given control of wealth beyond direct donations.

A nobleman who was interested in participating in the crusades might place all his assets under Templar management while he was away. Accumulating wealth in this manner throughout Christendom and the outremer, the order in 1150 began generating letters of credit for pilgrims journeying to the holy land.

Pilgrims deposited their valuables with a local Templar preceptors before embarking, received a document indicating the value of their deposit, then used that document upon arrival to the holy land to retrieve their funds in an amount of treasure of equal value. This innovative arrangement was an early form of banking and may have been the first formal system to support the use of cheques, it improved the safety of pilgrims by making then less attractive targets for thieves, and also contributed to the Templar coffers.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Good read.
I was expecting our @The.Black.Templar used a cheque to pay for matissue.

 

[Purple Lord]

Friday 13th October 1307- a date incorrectly cited as the origin of the popular stories about Friday the 13th- King Philip V ordered De Molay and scores of other French Templars to be simultaneously arrested. The arrest warrant started with the words `Dieu n'est past content, nous Avon's des ennemis de la foi Dans Le Royaume'~ (God is not pleased, we have enemies of the faith in the kingdom)

Claims were made that during Templar admissions, recruits were forced to spit on the cross, deny Christ and engage in indecent kissing, brethren were also accused of worshipping idols, and the order was said to have encouraged homosexual practices. Many of these allegations contain tropes that bear similarities to accusations made against other persecuted groups such as Jews, Heretics and accused witches. These allegations though we're highly politicized without any real evidence. Still, the Templars were charged with numerous other offences such as financial corruption, fraud and secrecy. Many of the accused confessed to their charges under torture (Even though the Templars denied being tortured in their written confessions) and their confessions, even though obtained under duress, caused a scandal in Paris. The prisoners were coerced to confess that they had spat on the cross.
One said `Moi, Raymond {Yeah I double checked this bit} De la Fete 21, and Reconnais Que {j'Ai} Crache trios good sir la Croix, Maid De bouche et pas De Coeur' I Raymond De la Fete 21 years old, admit that I have spat three times on the cross but only from my mouth and not from my heart.

 

[Giggz]

The templar legends are very fascinating. The king was broke and was salivating for the Templar riches. Many were killed on false and flimsy accusations.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

The templar legends are very fascinating. The king was broke and was salivating for the Templar riches. Many were killed on false and flimsy accusations.

Where did all the looted gold disappear to?

 

[Purple Lord]

The templar legends are very fascinating. The king was broke and was salivating for the Templar riches. Many were killed on false and flimsy accusations.

He was also indebted to them, rather than pay he sought to destroy them. Goes to show how dangerous it is for a system to lack checks and balances.

 

[Purple Lord]

Where did all the looted gold disappear to?

Pope Clementine & King Philip V would be in a better position to answer this.