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The Knights Templar
The Templars, the Knights Hospitallers, the Teutonic Knights – the chivalric orders founded during the Crusades evoke romantic images of warrior monks who were fierce but spiritual, chaste and pious yet battle-ready. But what were they really like? How did their organisations form, rise and decline? And how much of what we think about them is myth?
The Knights Templar tells the stories of the major and minor military orders from the 11th century to – in the case of the surviving orders – the present day. Organised chronologically, the book follows the fates of orders, from the foundation of the Knights of St Peter in 1053 to the major crusading era in the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th centuries, from the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic to the Reconquista in Iberia and on to the Hospitallers’ later ventures in the Mediterranean and even in the Caribbean.
Full of surprising details, the book not only explores how the military and religious aspects of the orders were reconciled, but also looks more broadly at the orders’ work, from the Templars’ role in the development of modern banking to hospital, castle and cathedral building, from the Teutonic Knights’ treatment of non-believers to the Hospitallers’ battles against Barbary pirates. Illustrated with 180 colour and black-&-white photographs, artworks and maps, The Knights Templar is a fascinating history of about some of Europe’s most often misunderstood organisations.
The Knights Templar tells the stories of the major and minor military orders from the 11th century to – in the case of the surviving orders – the present day. Organised chronologically, the book follows the fates of orders, from the foundation of the Knights of St Peter in 1053 to the major crusading era in the Holy Land in the 12th and 13th centuries, from the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic to the Reconquista in Iberia and on to the Hospitallers’ later ventures in the Mediterranean and even in the Caribbean.
Full of surprising details, the book not only explores how the military and religious aspects of the orders were reconciled, but also looks more broadly at the orders’ work, from the Templars’ role in the development of modern banking to hospital, castle and cathedral building, from the Teutonic Knights’ treatment of non-believers to the Hospitallers’ battles against Barbary pirates. Illustrated with 180 colour and black-&-white photographs, artworks and maps, The Knights Templar is a fascinating history of about some of Europe’s most often misunderstood organisations.
Unknown Binding
First published July 13, 2021
About the author
Michael Kerrigan
146 books21 followersMichael Kerrigan is a seasoned freelance writer and editor with over thirty years of experience across a wide spectrum of publishing work, from advertising and catalogue copy to book blurbs and specialist nonfiction. A prolific author, he has written around sixty full-length books on subjects ranging from ancient warfare and Slavic myth to modern architecture and the science of consciousness, all aimed at a general readership. He contributed a weekly Books in Brief column to The Scotsman for two decades and has reviewed extensively for the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and Financial Times.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 22, 2021
Coming This Month…"The Knights Templar—From Catholic Crusaders to Conspiring Criminals" by Michael Kerrigan...Templar Facts, Myths & Modern Views...Princes and pirates; protectors, politicians and plunderers; quite frequently all of these correctly describe the soldiers of Christ known, as Knights Templar, according to research presented in Mike Kerrigan’s latest book, “The Knights Templar—From Catholic Crusaders to Conspiring Criminals.”
“….Christ was the implicit inspiration for every crusade…” Michael Kerrigan, “The Knights Templar—From Catholic Crusaders to Conspiring Criminals.”
Knights Templar are fabled in history wearing gleaming white vestments of purity, with a red cross of Christ blazoned across the chest—the mythic fairy tale “white knights” rescuing damsels in distress.
Kerrigan explains that these medieval warrior monks, known primarily as Knights Templar (although there were many similar Orders, (Hospitalizers, Teutonic Knights, Knights of St. John, etc.) flocked to the Holy Land from across Europe on numerous Crusades to defend Christianity from the encroachment of Islam, as well as to protect pilgrims trekking to Jerusalem from bandits marauding along the routes.
With attention to research, and a personal acerbic analysis of facts, Kerrigan’s “Templar” is a thoroughly engaging read and includes a broad range of history. The book begins with the first call to Crusade; tells of valiant 13-year-old Frankish Prince Baldwin IV, a leper, who proves a brave warrior and rises to become King of Jerusalem; explains the origins and vows of the Templars; summarizes many of their legends and literature; discusses the Templar evolution and ultimate downfall; and closes on its current modern forms.
They are paradoxically referenced in many notable works of literature as gallant noblemen of chivalry--such as in Arthurian legends. Yet, nay sayers will accuse the same Templars as heretics and heinous blasphemers.
Ironically, Templar legacy and mystique unknowingly comes into many people's minds several times a year on every Friday the 13th. Throughout the last 700-years, Friday 13th has been considered unlucky. This may be because on Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered all Templar Buildings ransacked. This resulted in the torture of hundreds of Knights Templar on trumped-up charges of heresy—and ultimately in the burning at the stake of the last Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay.
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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs
REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Sincere Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Michael Kerrigan, and Amber Books, LLC., for Providing an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for Review.
Additional Reviews by ‘TheBookMavenJoy’ can be found also on Goodreads.
“….Christ was the implicit inspiration for every crusade…” Michael Kerrigan, “The Knights Templar—From Catholic Crusaders to Conspiring Criminals.”
Knights Templar are fabled in history wearing gleaming white vestments of purity, with a red cross of Christ blazoned across the chest—the mythic fairy tale “white knights” rescuing damsels in distress.
Kerrigan explains that these medieval warrior monks, known primarily as Knights Templar (although there were many similar Orders, (Hospitalizers, Teutonic Knights, Knights of St. John, etc.) flocked to the Holy Land from across Europe on numerous Crusades to defend Christianity from the encroachment of Islam, as well as to protect pilgrims trekking to Jerusalem from bandits marauding along the routes.
With attention to research, and a personal acerbic analysis of facts, Kerrigan’s “Templar” is a thoroughly engaging read and includes a broad range of history. The book begins with the first call to Crusade; tells of valiant 13-year-old Frankish Prince Baldwin IV, a leper, who proves a brave warrior and rises to become King of Jerusalem; explains the origins and vows of the Templars; summarizes many of their legends and literature; discusses the Templar evolution and ultimate downfall; and closes on its current modern forms.
They are paradoxically referenced in many notable works of literature as gallant noblemen of chivalry--such as in Arthurian legends. Yet, nay sayers will accuse the same Templars as heretics and heinous blasphemers.
Ironically, Templar legacy and mystique unknowingly comes into many people's minds several times a year on every Friday the 13th. Throughout the last 700-years, Friday 13th has been considered unlucky. This may be because on Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered all Templar Buildings ransacked. This resulted in the torture of hundreds of Knights Templar on trumped-up charges of heresy—and ultimately in the burning at the stake of the last Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay.
==============
The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs
REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Sincere Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Michael Kerrigan, and Amber Books, LLC., for Providing an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for Review.
Additional Reviews by ‘TheBookMavenJoy’ can be found also on Goodreads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2021
The Knights Templar by Michael Kerrigan is a very nice overview of the military orders, lumped in this case under the broad, and slightly misleading, umbrella of the Knights Templar.
This volume is both attractive and informative, even for someone who almost, before shifting focus, became a medievalist. While primarily medieval in scope, I found the last chapter to be very interesting, bringing the myth and the mystique surrounding the Knights Templar into the relative present.
There are a mix of both black and white images to make the book attractive and the text is quite readable. Highly recommended for either table top display or as a quick reference on a shelf.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
This volume is both attractive and informative, even for someone who almost, before shifting focus, became a medievalist. While primarily medieval in scope, I found the last chapter to be very interesting, bringing the myth and the mystique surrounding the Knights Templar into the relative present.
There are a mix of both black and white images to make the book attractive and the text is quite readable. Highly recommended for either table top display or as a quick reference on a shelf.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 18, 2021
Definitely aimed at the younger reader and certainly not the more advanced reader looking for a more scholarly tome. Covers off the basics, and the usual myths and allegations.
Introduction is on the early knights, courtly love, Arthurian mythos, with a side tour to the world of the Benedictine monks.
Focus is not just the Templars, but also the Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, and other European knightly orders in both the Holy Land and Europe as centered mainly around the Mediterranean.
Plenty of maps, images, side text boxes and catchy headings.
Well below my reading level.
Introduction is on the early knights, courtly love, Arthurian mythos, with a side tour to the world of the Benedictine monks.
Focus is not just the Templars, but also the Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, and other European knightly orders in both the Holy Land and Europe as centered mainly around the Mediterranean.
Plenty of maps, images, side text boxes and catchy headings.
Well below my reading level.
November 27, 2021
This book was information overload. I’ve read a lot of books from this publisher and I was not expecting the amount of writing in this book. I truly struggled to even skim read the book. I was also disappointed to find that the photos win the book were all in black and white. I know color is more expensive, but again, I’ve read so many books from this publisher and they have always had beautiful color images. I’m sure some fanatic of the Middle Ages or the Crusades is going to love this book, but that person is not me.
Thank you to Amber Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Amber Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2021
The Knights Templar is a fantastic journey through the historical facts behind the myths. If you have already explored the Knights Templar, the Crusades, and other secret societies, there is nothing new between the covers. However, this is an excellent introduction for anyone whose curiosity has been piqued by Hollywood.
Thank you NetGalley and Amber Books, Ltd. for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Thank you NetGalley and Amber Books, Ltd. for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews