The Knights Templar, also known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a military order of the Catholic faith from 1119 to 1312. They originated as a small order to protect christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land from bandits and highwaymen, and eventually grew into one of the wealthiest and popular military orders in Christendom. The Templar Knights, recognized by their white mantles with red crosses, were recognized as some of the most skilled fighters of the Crusades. The downfall of the order seems to have come from political smearing, jealousy, and speculatively fear of their power. Many of the members of the Templar were tortured and put on trial, accused of crimes such as; homosexuality, spitting on the cross, denying Christ, and worshiping idols.