Templar Crusader XII C

Our brave and pious Knight Templar readies himself for the coming storm. At the end of the 12th Century the Saracen kingdoms surrounding the Kingdom of Jerusalem were large, well armed, and waiting for revenge upon the Christian Crusader Kingdom. He carries only the heraldry of his order with the large cross in red both on his surcoat and shield. His helmet will be tolerable to wear with the cushioning effect of the leather about his brow and he has further leather beneath his chain mail for cushioning and additional armor. He is presently carrying his sword, but can easily adopt many other weapons when he leaves his prayers before battle.

The Templar order of essentially warrior-monks was large, powerful and firmly in control of many new castles and strongholds in the Holy Land. Saladin and his army would change so much of that in 1187 with Saladin's huge victory at Hattin followed by the brief siege and surrender of Jerusalem. The Templars and other crusading orders and Kings would try for centuries to regain those lost lands but to no avail. The world still watches as the struggle for the control of Jerusalem continues to this very day.