any of you ever read "Holy Grail, Holy Blood" back in the 80's? This book was the main inspiration behind "The Da Vinci Code", and most of what it proposes is probably considered blasphemous by mainstream Christianity. However, there's a lot of interesting history in the book... and an intriguing 'what if'...
The Knights Templar had always been a bit envious of the Teutonic Knights' independent nation-state, and were considering an independent state of their own, in the Languedoc (the south of modern France, in the Pyrenees). Apparently, the Templars had a lot in common with the Cathars of Languedoc, and shared many of the same religious 'heresies' that prompted the launch of the Albigensian Crusade into that region. The Crusade hit before the Knights could carry out their plan.
So, let us suppose that the Templars move first. They pour their wealth and military might into the Languedoc and declare it to be an independent Templar state. If the Albigensian Crusade is then launched on schedule in 1209, how will such a conflict play out?