The Last Grand Master of The Crusades

Shortly after the first crusade, Hugh de Payens led a group of knights that volunteered to protect the city of Jerusalem, which was after conquering the Muslims. This military forces primary duty was to protect Christian pilgrims on their voyage to the Holy Land. King Baldwin II who bestowed upon them residence at the Temple Mount, blessed their formation and thus creating the Knights Templar.

For the first nine years of the Templar's inception, there were only nine knights. This was in large part because of the strict vows that a knight had to swear to. This included chastity, poverty, and obedience, which was not a very attractive ideal for many men. The Templars can thank Bernard of Clairvaux for their rise in great numbers and the legend that still exists today.

Bernard put in writing a letter to Hugues de Payens, labeled as de laude novae militae (in praise of the new knighthood). This letter had a profound impact and because of it, a flock of noble Christian men joined the ranks of the Knights Templar. Those that could not join their ranks bestowed the Templar with land and other treasures. By their own strict laws, individual knights were to have little wealth so these gifts were given to the order to fund operations.

In turn, the Templars became very prosperous not only because of the gifts received but also due to them being free from taxation and tithing. They also held an expertise in commerce and are believed to have formed the first banking and currency system. Pilgrims would deposit their money with the Templars prior to the journey to the Holy Land in good faith that it would be returned. They also established a form of our modern day Western Union allowing pilgrims to send money to friends or loved ones.