5 secret societies with intriguing origins and rituals

1. The Knights Templar

A feared, revered, much-mythologised fighting force, the order of the Knights Templar was formed in 1119 with the express purpose of protecting Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. Deriving their name from their headquarters on the former site of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, the Templars grew in wealth and influence, becoming major power players in the medieval world and even establishing what is regarded as the first international banking system.

Yet, despite the might of the organisation, the brother knights were expected to live humble lives, strictly regulated by a code of conduct known as the Latin Rule.

This governed the smallest details of a Templar’s life, openly stating that a good knight should ‘secretly despise their own will’ and embrace an existence of absolute obedience. Taking a vow of chastity and adopting a largely vegetarian diet was only the tip of the iceberg – some of the more peculiar rules included swearing off shoelaces (which were designated ‘pagan’), asking for permission before adjusting their stirrups, and even being forced to eat off the floor, among the dogs, as punishment for misbehaviour.