Templars- Shipyards and Banking

A very own Shipyard
When setting out on a journey to the Holy Land, people could travel over land to Palestine, usually through Hungary. The Order had chapters there as well. However, transporting goods over land was more difficult. It cost time, money and it was hazardous. That's why this transport preferably took place by boat, over water , through rivers, and mostly by sea. Many of the landroutes protected by the Knights Templar ended near a harbour, for example: Touon, Nice, Marseille, Genua, Nantes, Bristol etc.

Independent Templar fleet
Initially existing shipping was relied upon. But soon the Order took this into it's own hands sothat they would be independent and safer. In the long run they maintained their own shipping-services over the mediterranean sea between the harbours of South France and their own harbour in Akka. Also far outside over the Atlantic Ocean they sailed. Many pilgrims, crusaders and other used these services. Seemingly people felt safe when it was in the hands of the Order. Eventually they had their own shipyards and deployed their own fleet especially designed to transport horses.

The Templars as early bankers
Transporting money and expensive goods over such a great distance was very risky. For that reason a 'girosystem' was developed. An amount of money could be deposited at one Templar House and a letter of credit would be given in return, with which the money could be withdrawn at any random other Templar Preceptory.

This was possible because of the rigid way the Order was organised, with branches throughout the Christian world and because they enjoyed a lot of respect based on reliability of the Order. It limited the dangerous transport of money and it met the scarcity of coined money.

European money streams in Templar hands
the role of the Order expanded to that of general bankers. European money streams fell into their hands. Kings going on Crusade deposited their most important money there. From the middle of the twelfth century the whole French treasury was deposited at the Templars Houses. In the 13th century the Knight Templar did the administration and keeping of the English Treasury for decades. Even the common people used these services for loans. The Paris branche opened four counters on a daily basis.

Reliability and credit
apparently kings and commoners trusted the Knights Templar so much that they dared to deposit their money into their hands. This shows how the Order was seen and considered by everybody all over the Christian world. This responsibility also gave the Order a silent form of power over people and kings who owed them money.