Yes! I had heard a bit about the Knights Templar, I guess I would have categorized them as religious first, financial/governance functions second. But also the Order of Malta had quite a lot of power, to the point I believe that it is still recognized by the UN!

I hadn't realized that about African slaves; debt for what?

https://www.un.int/orderofmalta/about#:~:text=in%20your%20br....