ROMANESQUE PAINTER, French
(12th century)

Crusaders

12th century
Mural
Chapel of the Templars, Cressac

The Crusades were a series of several military campaigns - usually sanctioned by the Papacy - that took place during the 11th through 13th centuries. Originally, they were Roman Catholic endeavors to re-capture the Holy Land from the Muslims. The order called Templars was founded in 1118 or 1119 by nine Christian knights, the original object of the organization being to maintain free passage for the pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. Baldwin II King of Jerusalem gave them part of his palace, and they kept their arms in the Temple, hence their name of Templars.