The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order

by Sean Martin

This book is an essential exploration into the history of a legendary group of Crusaders, which are prominently featured in Dan Brown's recent best seller, The Da Vinci Code . The Knights Templar rose from humble beginnings to become the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages. Formed to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, they participated in the Crusades and rapidly gained wealth, lands, and influence. Seemingly untouchable for nearly two centuries, they fell from grace spectacularly after the loss of the Holy Land. In the ensuing centuries the Templars have exerted a unique influence over European history; orthodox historians see them as nothing more than soldier-monks whose arrogance was their ultimate undoing, while others see them as occultists of the first order. With clarity and ease, Martin navigates between the orthodox and the speculative, the historical and the myth, to bring alive the story of the Templars. Like those other legends of the Middle Ages -- the characters of the Arthurian tales -- The Knights Templar holds captive the imagination of all those intrigued by conspiracy and how history and myth intertwine to become the stuff of legend.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Audiobook, Medieval, Military History, Medieval History

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Author of bestsellers The Knights Templar: The History & Myths of the Legendary Military Order, The Gnostics: The First Christian Heretics and The Cathars: The Rise & Fall of the Great Heresy. My new book, A Short History of Disease, will be published in June 2015.

Reviews

[Diamond Cowboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I have heard a lot of true and false information about the knights templar. It was good to find out the truth.

[Terry Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic history of the Knights Templar. A quick read. just the basics from the group forming, their activity during the crusades, their demise, and mysteries involving the group. A good starting point for further research.

[Eddie Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fact-filled account of Templar history, with a look at the major Templar mysteries. It appears Philip IV was a serial thief and his greed amply accounts for his desire to close them down, although apparently their treasure and fleet genuinely disappeared & Philip failed in his quest for self-enrichment.

The book steers clear of the more speculative Templar theories, although a section at the end examines some of them & provides whatever evidence exists as a basis for them. A fairly dry account and packed with hard-to-digest facts, dates, and names, this nevertheless has the merit of being brief and accurately reliable rather than sensationalistic. A good starting point.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t what I was really expecting…. I wanted more detail and background.

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively quick history of the Templar Order. It has lots of details about elections, papal bulls, battle details, and lists of names. It is very factually based. He does his best to dispel the myths around their actions, but there are just some things are just unknown, so there is some speculation.
It ends with a very brief discussion on the myths that have grown around their dissolution and the speculation about their heirs.
I would recommend it.

[Akrabar · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good account of the Knights Templars

[Muhammed Batuhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aşırı kronolojik. 50 kişiden çok, tarihteki aktörlerin ilk 50 sayfada yığıldığı bir kitap olmuş. Haçlı tarihinden bihaber olanların koşarak uzaklaşması gereken eser.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit to kind of being disappointed in this book. After seeing a documentary about the Templars on the History Channel, I picked it up, wanting to learn more, only to have 80% of the same facts regurgitated at me, with the other 20% being a hard to follow list of important leaders, places, and battles in the Middle East involving the Templars, their supporters, and even "enemies".

I suppose this is to be expected when dealing with such history. The Templars were not among the most well documented groups, especially during their sketchy formation and their horrific downfall. The only thing I can say for certainty, whatever good or evil they should be credited with, their secrecy and mystery did not help matters, especially in the end. I do not believe most of the charges leveled against them at their trial (the Medieval Church was not exactly a bastion of...tolerance when it even went to far as to dictate diet and sexual activity), even though the ugliest rumors often have at least the faintest trace of truth to them. I believe that the Templars grew too powerful and whiny, greedy Philip the Belle wanted them done away with. I believe that the contributed greatly militarily and financially to the world, and they may have survived in some form after the arrests and subsequent trials and executions, but for the most part, they remain a fairly obscure order that still attracts a lot of attention today.

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little Pocket Essentials history of The Knights Templar remains true to historical research and only includes the more esoteric and faux history 'mysteries' at the end to round out the story of the Templars in popular culture.

Sean Martin quotes good research (with Notes and a Bibliography) in telling the story of the origins and activities of the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon in the Holy Land and beyond it. They were not the only military order to be sanctioned to protect pilgrims and church property or to kill in defense of the faith, but they have had the longest 'afterlife' because of the mythology that surrounds them.

Martin covers all of that and places things in their correct context, some of which still leaves room for some mystery. After all, before he went to the execution fires, the last of the Grand Masters ensured their records were destroyed. So, the questions keep being asked, and all sorts of 'interesting' theories are proposed every few years.

It seems the Templars will always have a place in our collective imaginations.

[Maxime Rolaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the size of the book it obviously covers the subject only superficially. I found this work interesting, concise and inspiring though. At least it gives readers totally unfamiliar with the topic of the Knights Templar a good first idea. Then of course for many readers this book will probably raise more questions than answers. I liked the opening of the book about the French Revolution and the ending with the various theories, both academic and speculative. I noted some incorrect bits of information here and there, hence why I didn't give this work 5 stars, i.e. King John being the brother of King Henry II!
But overall I recommend it to anyone wanting to get a brief idea about the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller and the crusades in 150 pages or so.

[S. K. Pentecost · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I knew about Templars fit on the head of a pin. Now I know more. Like, I now have one more secret behind the scenes cabal pulling the strings of world governance to worry about. How do they all fit behind the curtain, do you think?

This book was a compact primer (pronounced pry-mur)on the workings of a very recognizable brand of warrior-monks.

I listened to the audio-book so I'll have to go back for a re-listen for those parts when I got distracted, but this book felt like a very good jumping off point for anyone interested in the Military Orders of the Crusades.

I might suggest the printed version as the narrator wasn't seamlessly edited for the audio-book.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating History of the Knights Templar

This book although short is a straightforward, unembellished, history of the Knights Templars, from their inception to their destruction and concludes with possible explanations of what happened next. It is an easy read, but not simplistic and serves as an excellent introduction before diving into the more complex books.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and grandson like TV series Knightfall which follows some Templers who have always interested me. There seems to be such mystic surrounding them - good guys or bad guys?? This was a good review of their history with some surprises for me!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good overview of Templar history from founding of the brotherhood to the burning of Jaques de Molay. Despite being short, it certainly has its fair share of dry patches. But overall it’s a fine book.

I do have one knit-pick that really stuck out for me. The author claims the templar's “great war horses often standing up to 17 hands high.” I don’t know where he got “17 hands high” from, considering most of what I’ve read tends to put destriers (medieval war horses) in the 15-16 hand range. I’d like to see some citations to back that claim up.

[Jodi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really dry and scholarly exploration of the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. It's EXCEEDINGLY clear that the author did a lot of research, but, he is not a storyteller, so there was no color to the story at all. I am sure that, in the hands of another writer, these bare, bald details could have been made a bit more interesting and captivating. TBH, it was a struggle to make it through and remain awake...save your money.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

(15) 2009. A small paperback with small font which for me made it quite difficult to read. Well written but no new information apart from one interesting tidbit about one of their seals featuring the Gnostic god Abraxas. 'As is the case with much Templar mythology, there are some facts scattered in amongst a great deal of conjecture.'

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational. Like many things in life- the truth often lies somewhere in between. What religion DOESN’T have its own offshoots (derivatives)? Like Area 51 in the United States, the entire subject may have been blown way out of proportion by conspiracy theories with an appeal to Religion. That does not make it less interesting to study, however.

[Raylee Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the fact there is very little speculation in this book. It was a brief summary on the order that was easily digestible for me. I already knew most of the information, but it was a nice refresher, especially to remember specific names and dates. My son also listened to me read some parts of the book aloud for story time, he is three so obviously I only read him the age appropriate bits.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book many years ago when the movie Kingdom of Heaven was released in an attempt to learn more about the Knights Templar. The book includes hundreds of years of historical facts and a brief section on the myths. Conclusion: the Templars remain an enigma.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of disinformation going around about the Knights of Templar. Martin’s book sets the record straight by stating the facts about the knights of Templar. The book is easy to read and gives a general overview of the knights along with explaining their beliefs and exploits.

[Iren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I hoped for more when I opened this book, but as far as my understanding goes there is not much information on Templars out there and this reconstruction is as good as any other

[R.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about the Templar Order, rather uneven in places but some good detail.

[Mike Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, concise history of the Templar knights. Perfect for people who do not know a great deal about the order.

[Tink · Rating 1 out of 5]

You dont need this book just google it

[Analisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing very little about the subject, it was like reading a long Wikipedia page rather than a book. 👍

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read. The bare basics on the Templar Knights. A short book but full of facts and the myths.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad. Lots of typo errors in the Kindle edition. Writing is not offensive.
An interesting topic, well-covered despite general lack of information. Especially nice to read since there are several Templar churches in the area.

[Tech Nossomy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Associating the subject matter with one particular international bestseller should not bode for prime-rated content and indeed the book suffers from many inaccuracies.

The contribution of the Order in medieval finance is overrated, and the suggestion is created that the Order was pioneering monetary innovations. In reality a monetary system with exchange mechanisms already existed in that time, albeit very rudimentary. The result is that the reader may incorrectly conclude that the exclusivity of the Order also implies a secrecy surrounding financial forces behind the shaping of political Europe.

Neither does the author add any particular detail to the livelihoods of the Order's members, which were also consumed by far more mundane administrative tasks, such as running an estate, succession planning, infighting, advisor appointments, personal finances and the such.

The largest omission however is the motivation of its members that would give rise to the Order in the first place. The book insufficiently emphasises the fact that these were mercenaries operating under papal immunity and with the prospect of land ownership. Presumably land acquisition was paid for by tax levies and diverted clerical income, at least initially. The binding human factor is not properly introduced and this omits the fact that membership was a commitment to what essentially amounts to an unaccountable standing army.

The author makes little effort to segregate myth from legend and indeed postulates that "its beginnings are equally shrouded in mystery and silence." Are they? Hence to state that the advent of the Order was "one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the Middle Ages, if not of all European history" borders on the hyperbolic. As far as I can tell this is the author's first published book and it shows.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book a few months ago from some friends who, while interested in the topic of the Templars, and sorting through some of the myth from the reality in history, described the book as a bit overly detailed, muddying the information and making it difficult to get through.

I have to agree with their assessment after finishing it last night. The book is short, about 150 pages, a little bit more if you include the Appendices, but it is packed with information. The author does provide many details about the actual history of the Templars, their quick rise and likewise quick fall, before spending about 20 pages or so on the variety of myths surrounding the Templars. However, he fails to address all the myths surround the Templars, and fails to really analyze the myths in the historical context to determine which myths should carry more weight.

I think the most frustrating part of the book for many people, particularly for the casual reader who was drawn to the Templar mysteries based on recent attention, is that you really need some history background to understand the book. In particular, knowledge of the political situation in Europe during the 12th through 14th centuries, the role of the Papacy, and the crusades is important. The amount of random historical figures that makes appearances, along with various locales in the medieval Middle East that are referenced, I think make this a difficult read and frustrating read for a person with just a passing interest in Templar history.

Thus, the book is just alright, and probably not worth a read by someone unless they have a particular interest in the history of the Templars.

[Jhumjhum Chakrabarti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am compelled to say that the excitement with which I had picked up this book, it failed dismally to live upto my expectations. When I began reading I thought I would be getting a commentary on the 'Holy blood and Holy grail 'but soon realised that it had drawn most of its references from the book itself. So instead of acting as a commentary it turned to be more of an offshoot.
Further the author doesn't add any new information to what is not already known to the Templar Enthusiasts hence somewhere down the mid way the reading process turns boring making one lose interest. Also, the laymen like us are more aware of the knights and their actions through the legends of King Arthur and their search for the Holy Grail. Elucidation of these topics would have added more interest to the book than merely touching up on them. Lack of details on templar knowledge of the concept of divine feminine and the occult worship leaves the readers craving for more especially when they have read 'Da Vinci Code'.
Basically suited to those who seek the essentially rudimentary information on the rise and fall of the Knights Templar.