Hellgate: London – The Real Templar Knights

IAHGames’ official Hellgate: London website has been updated with an interesting article about Europe’s real Templar Knights of old.

Founded around 1119 AD, the Templar began as a group of French Knights formed to protect European pilgrims to the recently secured Holy Land in Jerusalem. They were later officially recognized by the Church, and over the following 200 years, rose to substantial power and influence across Europe.

Although they were a military group, the Templar’s focus was religious, and strict codes of behavior were enforced on its members. One of these codes required the Knights of the Templar not to own any property. All riches and property belonged to the order, and were used to carry out the order’s purpose: escorting pilgrims to Jerusalem. Because of this, they received endorsement from the Roman Catholic Church as a favorite charity, and gained considerable wealth and influence as an organization.