Much has been written and analyzed about the Knights Templar over the last millenium and it's hard to believe that something new could still be uncovered seven hundred years after their apparent dissolution and yet we are going to try to do just that. To understand what constitutes a legitimate order of knighthood today, please visit http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/legitim.htm.In order to understand what may have happened to the Templars we have to understand a little of their history.

History
The Order was formed around 1119 by Hugh de Payens and Godfrey of St. Omer, and supported by St. Bernard of Clairvaux then in 1129 at the Council of Troyes they were given papal blessing and their Rule was established.