This red split ended cross was the emblem adopted by the Knights Templar as their crest. Popularised by the best selling novel "The Da Vinci Code", the famed Knights Templar were a group of crusader knights who were charged with guarding the road to the holy land for pilgrims during the early crusades. They later became incredibly rich and powerful and some believe they unearthed some priceless treasures, and lost secrets, from beneath the temple mount in Jerusalem. Accused of heresy by the church, they were eventually rounded up and put to death.