1-155-712 - Art Media/Heritage Images

Knights Templar before Jerusalem, c1099, (14th century). Two knights approach the open gate to the city. On the battlements are three Saracen warriors. After the 1st Crusade (1095-1099), in 1119 or 1120 a small group of French knights formed the military order of Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon to protect pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem which had been captured by crusaders led by Godfrey de Bouillon (c1060-1100), elected first king of Jerusalem in 1099. From the illuminated manuscript Roman de Godefroy de Bouillon (The Story of Godfrey de Bouillon) in the collection of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.