Who were the Knights Templar?

Since AD 1118, the Knights Templar have been romanticized in numerous movies, theorized about in countless books, and given metaphysical powers by organizations across the world. These pauvres chevaliers du temple, or Poor Knights of the Temple, formed under very humble circumstances, and grew to such prowess they became the basis on which all military orders of the Church to come were based. Just as interesting and important as the creation and growth of this order …

…have theorized that the Shroud of Turin is actually a depiction of Jacques de Molay, who is also thought to have cursed Pope Clement V and King Philip IV to their deaths while being burned at the stake in 1312. This curse, lending to the enigma that was the Templars, came true for both men within a year of Grand Master de Molay's death. And the story continues to intrigue and amaze people to this day.