Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain

by Steve Tibble

A gripping account of the Knights Templar, challenging received wisdom to show how these devout medieval knights played a profound role in making modern Britain
 
The Knights Templar have an enduring reputation—but not one they would recognize. Originally established in the twelfth century to protect pilgrims, the Order is remembered today for heresy, fanaticism, and even satanism.
 
In this bold new interpretation, Steve Tibble sets out to correct the record. The Templars, famous for their battles on Christendom’s eastern front, were in fact dedicated peace-mongers at home. They influenced royal strategy and policy, created financial structures, and brokered international peace treaties—primarily to ensure that men, money, and material could be transferred more readily to the east.
 
Charting the rise of the Order under Henry I through to its violent suppression following the fall of Acre, Tibble argues that these medieval knights were essential to the emergence of an early English state. Revealing the true legacy of the British Templars, he shows how a small group helped shape medieval Britain while simultaneously fighting in the name of the Christian Middle East.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Steve Tibble is honorary research associate at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the author of Monarchy and Lordships in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1099–1291. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Connor Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

I've read about the Templars before, but this one had a lot to offer. It focuses mainly on the history of the Templars in Britain; an island very far away from their front lines in the holy lands. They needed places like Britain in order to generate the funds and recruits for their wars, and they were very energetic in doing so. Give the Templars some fields, they'll make a farm. Give them a crossroads, they'll found a town. Give them a riverfront, they'll plant willow trees to block the river so they can dominate local trade routes.

The way they integrated themselves into the systems of government, how the events in the holy lands reverberated back onto the order in Britain, it was all fascinating and well written.

The last section of the book, detailing how Britain went about the persecution of the Templars, while France was busy torturing Templars until they confessed to all manner of implausible heresies, was particularly interesting and something I won't spoil in this review!

The book was an impulse buy, and one I was very happy with indeed!

[Reds_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me nearly 4 months to read this book, which I think tells it's own tale and makes me surprised at the overall rating from other reviews I found online.

In it's favour, the author clearly has a breadth and depth of knowledge of both the Templars and the history of the crusades which can then be used to support statements and illustrate the points he wishes to make. He was also able to use this to theorise as to why so many myths have arisen about the Templars and the origin of some of the myths which is genuinely interesting - as a commentary on the Templars & on conspiracy theories in general.

As to what I didn't enjoy, it's hard to explain - in part it was the writing style, sections would often start & end with a somewhat informal 'attention grabber' of a summary and the bits in between were factual and matter of fact. I found the former a bit patronising and repetitious, whether that is the author's style or the suggestions of an editor influenced by poplular TV documentaries I don't know. My other complaint is that I felt the structure of the book didn't quite hang together. I generally like a linear timeline but I'm not sure it was quite pulled off in this book - my overall impression was that the author had a wealth of information from his knowledge of the area but couldn't quite arrange it within the structure in a way that flowed. Factual nuggets of information or names were dropped in to prop up statements, but sometimes felt as though they came from research for another book as they seemed to come from nowhere (the best way I can describe it)

[Isaac Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow and felt like it was going in circles a bit, but it once it started following the templars more linearly, it picked up pretty quick.

A fun short read on a topic I knew very little about but would certainly look into more. The way that it deconstructs the conspiracist myths on the order and lays out what really happened in an analytical way, really scratches both my love for fantasy and history.

[Taylor K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant history of the Knights Templar in the British Isles. Of particular note is the way Steve Tibble makes great use of previous work on the Templars and reproduces it here in a coherent whole.

The book is strong on showing how linked the Templars were with the English crown from the twelfth century until their dissolution in the fourteenth. Whether they were truly the “knights who made Britain” is a point one can quibble with. I am more inclined to give credit to the medieval kings of both England and France and their administrators, but there can be no doubt the Templars were involved in the process and provided much needed infrastructure and financial support. The last two chapters where Tibble demolishes both the medieval and modern myths which have grown around the Templars are skillfully written refutations of all the Templar nonsense that still regretfully gets bandied about. This is a great book and a welcome addition to the history of medieval Britain and the history of the Crusades.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books about the Templars, mostly concerning their role in the Crusades. This book focused very much on Britain and their role in helping to run England. Working closely with the kings they were at the heart of government, particularly concerning finance. Their role as mediators was also important. I like the way in which the author dismisses the legends and nonsense that has come to surround the history of the Templars and focuses on the facts. A fascinating read and a very enjoyable book.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the Templars in England!

Bankers, farmers, lords. warriors, counselors of many kings - these are just some of the many factors and make the templar order so interesting.

Steve is very passionate about the topic and this flows throughout the whole work! You will finish the book woth a new passion of your.

Their eventual disbandment was about way more than the crusades and money. When we look at how England delt with the templar prosecutions we just how valued these men were. they sadly, could just not keep up with the times.

[Jonathan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you appreciate this is a history of the Templars and not the Crusades, this book becomes more enjoyable and informative. Giving the whole ‘at home’ and ‘in the east’ history shows the Templars for who they were, monastic warriors and not mysterious entities as portrayed in pop culture and Internet forums. Tibble has done his homework and presents information in a readable way invoking both sympathy and awe for the achievements and suppression of the Templars.

[Matt Yeadon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it to be insightful and interesting. Does a great job of tackling the myth that they were a war frenzied cult but really administrative innovators who were at one point the most trusted people in British kings inner circles.

[Sean England · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great historical review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read setting the order in its historical context. Its excellent chapters on de-bunking the conspiracy theories surrounding The Templars are particularly entertaining.

[Patricia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue my obsession with the Templars. Great addition to my collection.