The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon otherwise known as the Templar Order of Knights, was established after the First Crusade of 1096, to insure the safety of christians traveling to Jerusalem to worship. Endorsed by the Catholic Church in 1129 they grew to great power. Although they clung to their vows of poverty, they became powerful and wealthy during the early middle ages(primarily because of their development of modern banking methods) King Philip of France, indebted to the order,sought Pope Clement to bring pressure upon it. In 1307, many templars were falsely arrested, forced into false confessions, and burned at the stake. Under continuing pressure, the pope disbanded the order in 1312. Although almost decimated and their wealth reclaimed by the Church, their influence is felt in more modern times. Templar symbols have been used in orders of Freemasonry, and other orders, although no ties can be formally established.