From Alternative History

On October 13, 1307, Pope Clement V went into infamy for making mass arrests of the Knights Templar, eventually killing many of them. Little over a century later, the Teutonic Order would go to battle and be crushed by Poles-Lithuanians. This article delves into the idea that, what if the Templars were never arrested? What if the Teutonic Knights were never defeated at Grumwald, but the reverse? What if both orders formed their own empires, and soon found themselves facing each other on the battlefield? That is what this article intends to explore.

[edit] The Templar Empire

The Knights Templar had gained fame and wealth from their exploits across the Holy Land, and were seen as the most elite of all warriors. It was this power that drew the ire from the church, and it seemed inevitable that one pope would do what needed to be done. Pope Clement the V seemed to be that person, until July 10, 1307, when he suffered a fatal heart attack. As a result, the Knights merely grew in power and fortune into a sort of oligarchic state among the French. Realizing its potential, the Templars declared themselves independent, from the state. In less than a month they had proved their worth by fielding the French army and decimating it. On April seventh, they attained independence. King Lysander the I came to power, and brought an age of prosperity to the kingdom. His son, Lysander II, invaded and annexed Flanders, perhaps his greatest contribution to the empire. His unpopular policies, and his taxes, made him hated among the kingdom, until he was assasinated in 1362. For thirty years Lysander III made amends to his father's shortcomings, and annexed Provence without any blood being spilt. But in 1394, he died of old age, and his son, Lysander IV, succeeded him. The new king was young, but not naiive. He proved to be skillful in battle and an even greater pragmatist. It seemed the Templar Empire was headed for its golden age.

[edit] The Teutonic Empire

Originally a monastic order to created to protect travelers to the Holy Land, the Teutonic Knights were not as popular as the Templars. They went into Poland and Lithuania, and defeated the natives soundly at Grunwald. They continued to spread their influence far and wide, in converting pagans to Christianity. The knights reached as far as the Elbe in the West, and to the Baltic in the East. Their area of influence was so wide, that the Teutons decided to formally make an empire. Internal strife hampered the efforts for a long time, until they formally declared themselves an empire in 1416. King Ulrich II became their leader. Unlike the Templar Empire, the Teutonic Empire did not give the king or aristocracies full power in the government. The very loose government became the staple for the Teutonic Empire, and would attract many pilgrims. And it may be for this reason that the ire between the Templars and the Teutons first began.