The Knights Templar

Commemorate and honour the noble deeds of the brave Knights Templar with this great T Shirt, which is both powerful and elegant in its simplicity. Venture forth with pride, wearing your Knights Templar Tee, and enact your own noble deeds in this modern age. Perhaps you may even be descended from a courageous Knight, who fought to protect those traveling on their pilgrimages?

The styling of the large cross, printed on the front of the T Shirt, represents one of many different cross designs used by the Templars. The overall look of this bold red device is very iconic, especially against a pure white background, which makes it very reminiscent of the mantles proudly worn by the original Knights Templar. Embedded within the main cross, where its two bars overlap, is another of the popular Knights Templar cross designs. This smaller cross has been given a subtle design treatment, being coloured in a darker shade of red than the main cross. In white, emblazoned across the horizontal bar of the main cross, are the words ‘The Knights Templar’ printed in a classically styled Old English typeface.

The Knights Templar, originally named the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, was an organization created by a French Knight named Hugues de Payens in c. 1118. The primary mission of this military order of devout Christians was to protect pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.

The Knights Templar were the elite forces of their time, and were sworn never to retreat in battle. The only exceptions were by the orders of their commander, if they were outnumbered three to one, or if the Templar flag went down. This helped to create a fearsome reputation for the Knights, who often defeated much larger forces.

The Knights Templar order was granted special rights, in 1139, including exemption from paying taxes. The Knights gradually developed an enormous banking system, which gained them huge financial influence. This banking network enabled pilgrims to deposit assets in their countries of origin and then withdraw funds on their journeys to the Holy Land. During the period of their greatest influence, the Knights were a primary banking and lending institution to the European Royalty and aristocracy. The Templars had a substantial fleet of ships and owned the island of Cyprus, as well as a large number of castles that they had built.

By the end of the 1200s, many influential people had become critical of the Templars wealth and power. At the same time, the Templars had relinquished their last foothold in the Holy Land. At the beginning of the 1300s, the Templars relocated their base to Paris. Meanwhile, King Philip IV of France was eager to seize the wealth held by the Knights Templar. In 1307, large numbers of French Templars were arrested in an operation conducted by agents of the King. These captured Knights were ultimately put to death. Through pressure from King Philip, the order of the Knights Templar was officially dissolved in 1312. However, the influence of the Knights Templar still echoes with us today, and some believe that the order quietly continues to carry out its secret and sacred duties.

The noble range of colours for this T Shirt includes White, Black, Athletic Heather and Navy.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Heather Prism colors are 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Side-seamed

Size guide