Did old church and king papers say Templars ran government money or regular banking?
Research question: What do contemporary papal bulls or royal charters from the 12th and 13th centuries say about the Templars' role in managing state finances versus private commercial banking?
The records show the Templars held royal privileges in England that touched the crown's money matters. During King John's reign they were freed from all amerciaments in the Exchequer, the royal treasury court 1. A charter of Henry III, dated 9 February in his eleventh regnal year, confirmed earlier donations to them and freed them from royal and sheriff's aids, hidage, carucage, danegeld and hornegeld 2. The same charter exempted them from tolls in all markets and fairs, at all bridges, and on all highways throughout the kingdom 3. Over time the Temple house in Paris became known as the 'strongbox of the powerful' 5, and the papal bull Ad providam permanently transferred Templar property to the Hospitallers, except Iberian holdings, which were reserved pending agreements 6. The verified facts do not include any bull or charter that separates the Templars' state financial role from private commercial banking, so the question is only partly answered 123456.
Sources
"In the reign of King John they were freed from all amerciaments in the Exchequer, and obtained the privilege of not being compelled to plead except before the king or his chief justice."The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, C. G. (Charles Greenstreet)
"by his famous charter, dated the 9th of February, in the eleventh year of his reign, he confirmed to them all the donations of his predecessors and of their other benefactors; and he acquitted them from the royal and sheriff's aids, and from hidage, carucage, danegeld and hornegeld"The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, C. G. (Charles Greenstreet)
"and from toll in all markets and fairs, and at all bridges, and upon all highways throughout the kingdom."The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, C. G. (Charles Greenstreet)
"The Templars, in addition to their amazing wealth, enjoyed vast privileges and immunities within this realm."The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, C. G. (Charles Greenstreet)
"La maison du Temple était devenue au fil du temps le « coffre-fort des puissants »"Dévolution des biens de l'ordre du Temple
"la bulle Ad providam transférait à perpétuité l'intégralité des biens templiers aux Hospitaliers de l' ordre de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem , à l'exception des possessions situées dans la péninsule ibérique qui sont réservés en attente d'accords."Dévolution des biens de l'ordre du Temple