Explanation: During the period of the Christian Crusades, a number of new ‘knightly orders’ arose, mixing religious fanaticism with military discipline and the extensive resources of the European knightly aristocracy.
Funny enough, despite their poor reputation in the modern day, the Templars were actually one of the less abhorrent of the lot, being renowned for relatively chivalrous behavior - possibly connected to their extreme concern with contractual obligations and their proto-banking system (which eventually got them killed by the French monarch, looking for fast cash).
By contrast, despite the Hospitallers both sounding benevolent and having very benevolent origins, as both escorts for pilgrims and providing basic care for the ailing in the Levant, they actually were notoriously impulsive in battle, and would later become anti-Muslim pirates. Which, while becoming Pirate-Knight-Crusaders is badass, is also shitty. LET THE PEOPLE TRADE, YOU BARBARIANS
The Teutonic Knights, on the other hand, well-earned their reputation in the modern day. Once crusading in the Holy Land no longer entertained them, they championed an expansionist war in the Baltics against pagans and, eventually, Christian Slavs as well, acquiring vast resources for the use of their own military order by the looting and extermination of the native population of the Baltics. Eventually, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth would shatter their power in a series of battles and leave them a husk of their former selves. Very cool horned helmets though.
Explanation: During the period of the Christian Crusades, a number of new ‘knightly orders’ arose, mixing religious fanaticism with military discipline and the extensive resources of the European knightly aristocracy.
Funny enough, despite their poor reputation in the modern day, the Templars were actually one of the less abhorrent of the lot, being renowned for relatively chivalrous behavior - possibly connected to their extreme concern with contractual obligations and their proto-banking system (which eventually got them killed by the French monarch, looking for fast cash).
By contrast, despite the Hospitallers both sounding benevolent and having very benevolent origins, as both escorts for pilgrims and providing basic care for the ailing in the Levant, they actually were notoriously impulsive in battle, and would later become anti-Muslim pirates. Which, while becoming Pirate-Knight-Crusaders is badass, is also shitty. LET THE PEOPLE TRADE, YOU BARBARIANS
The Teutonic Knights, on the other hand, well-earned their reputation in the modern day. Once crusading in the Holy Land no longer entertained them, they championed an expansionist war in the Baltics against pagans and, eventually, Christian Slavs as well, acquiring vast resources for the use of their own military order by the looting and extermination of the native population of the Baltics. Eventually, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth would shatter their power in a series of battles and leave them a husk of their former selves. Very cool horned helmets though.
I mean I don’t know anything about the Teutonic Order’s morals, but the helmets got me across the line. Did any one carry massive axes?
There were Templars that invaded England with William.
To my knowledge, the Templars weren’t founded until much later.