'Deus Vult'

The Templars are credited with great knowledge about many esoteric subjects and certainly they were expert masons, builders and warrior knights, knowledgeable in many practices, from across the Christian world, through the underlying Pagan world, and across to Eastern (Arabian) mysticism and theology through secret exchanges with their Muslim counterparts, the Hashishiim. Their services and knowledge were called upon by everyone. Their clients were the richest royal families, those with most to lose would often not want to go far without the protection of the Knights or the wisdom of their counsel.

Many legends surround the location of the Templar's first headquarters on the Temple Mount, which had been assigned to them by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem. They were in operation there for 75 years.
The Temple Mount is sacred ground to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and is believed to be the location of the ruins of Solomon's Temple, and the ancient resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The Templars dug tunnels under the Temple Mount, and legends say that they found the Ark of the Covenant, or remnants of the True Cross from the crucifixion. Many historians claim that the Templars discovered documents hidden in the ruins of the Temple "proving" that Jesus survived the crucifixion and/or was married to Mary Magdalene and had children by her. Indeed, the supposition that the Templars must have found something under the Temple Mount lies at the heart of most Templar legends.