In 1095, the Christian Emperor of Byzantium appealed to Pope Urban II for help in repelling the Seljuk Turks who were making advances across the Turkish peninsula. Urban responded by calling the First Crusade where four European Christian armies from France, Italy, England, and the Holy Roman Empire left Europe for Asia Minor in 1096.
The Crusaders first captured Antioch, then continued to Jerusalem which they captured in July 1099. Godfrey of Bouillon was declared king of the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem.
It was the second King of Jerusalem, Baldwin, who welcomed the original small band of Templars in 1120.