Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Knights Templar were founded in 1118 by a French knight named Hugues de Payens. He approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem to create a monastic Catholic religious order dedicated to protecting Christian pilgrims.
By 1150, the Knights Templar began issuing letters of credit for pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land. This system allowed pilgrims to deposit valuables at local preceptories and receive documents to claim equal treasure upon arrival, functioning as an early form of banking and bank cheques.
King Philip IV ordered the execution of Grand Master Jacques de Molay on the 18th of March 1314 in Paris. De Molay was burned alive at the stake alongside Geoffroi de Charney after retracting his forced confession.
Portugal is the only European kingdom where the Knights Templar survived under the protection of King Denis I. The Portuguese organization changed its name to the Order of Christ in 1319 and absorbed many former knights and properties into its ranks.
The Council of Vienne issued a papal bull on the 22nd of March 1312 that officially dissolved the order. Pope Clement IV transferred most Templar assets to the Hospitallers except in Castile, Aragon, and Portugal.