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The Templars
Sifting myth from history, Piers Paul Read reveals the Templars the multinational force of warrior monks, in their white tunics with red crosses over chainmail. They were not only unique among Christian institutions but constituted the first uniformed standing army in the western world and became pioneers of international banking. Expropriated by Philip IV of France in 1307, and confessing under torture to blasphemy, heresy and sodomy, the Order was finally suppressed by Pope Clement V in 1312. In a narrative that incorporates the story of the crusades and the many colourful characters who had links with the Templars, Piers Paul Read examines the question of their guilt and identifies their relevance to our own times. 'A highly readable and nicely paced book that draws on the lessons of modern historical scholarship while also communicating a sense of narrative excitement and drive' 'Evocative, measured and engaging' Evening Standard 'Magnificent in every way' Mail on Sunday
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
184 people are currently reading
1749 people want to read
About the author
Piers Paul Read
40 books145 followersBritish novelist and non-fiction writer. Educated at the Benedictines' Ampleforth College, and subsequently entered St John's College, University of Cambridge where he received his BA and MA (history). Artist-in-Residence at the Ford Foundation in Berlin (1963-4), Harkness Fellow, Commonwealth Fund, New York (1967-8), member of the Council of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (1971-5), member of the Literature Panel at the Arts Council, (1975-7), and Adjunct Professor of Writing, Columbia University, New York (1980). From 1992-7 he was Chairman of the Catholic Writers' Guild. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).
His most well-known work is the non-fiction Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974), an account of the aftermath of a plane crash in the Andes, later adapted as a film.
His most well-known work is the non-fiction Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974), an account of the aftermath of a plane crash in the Andes, later adapted as a film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
November 26, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in July 2001.
In Eco's novel Foucault's Pendulum, every conspiracy theory, every mad story about secret societies, all of them involve the Templars. Their dramatic downfall and the bizarre accusations made against them tend to overshadow the rest of their two centuries of history and the purpose for which they worked.
Read aims to set out something of the true history of the Templars, avoiding the sort of speculation that Eco was talking about. His book is aimed squarely at the popular market, with a good deal being a retelling of very well known medieval history. He spends some time explaining some of the background of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, (to establish the importance of the Temple in Jerusalem), and to describe the development of monastic ideals (as the Templars were a monastic order), the authority of the papacy and the background to the Crusades. Most of the book is in fact a history of the Crusades, and my major criticism of it is that Read doesn't make enough effort to narrate the history with the role of the Templars at the centre.
In the end, despite Read's efforts to put the order in its context, it is the downfall of the Templars which forms the most interesting part of the book. In contrast to many narratives of the story, he makes it seem almost inevitable, as the Templars failed to adapt as the Hospitallers did after the fall of Acre and the end of the Western presence in Palestine in 1291. Unlike the other order, they put a low emphasis on learning (particularly in the law which increased massively in importance at around this time), and they were much more dependent on the West (conquering the island of Rhodes effectively made the Hospitallers independent of the control of Western monarchs). The massive psychological blow of the fall of Acre thus made them particularly vulnerable, so that when Philip IV of France moved against them, they were in a poor position to try and stand up to him, and the old fashioned, elderly grand master, James de Molay, found it impossible to make any coherent plan of resistance. Even so, it did take about ten years from the initial accusations to the final suppression of the order, and this is something brought out by Read which is a contrast to many other accounts.
The Templars includes too much background to really be a history of the order; there is scope for a more focused narrative, even one aimed at the same popular audience. I would have wanted to see more on how the Templars became a prototype of the banking houses of the late Middle Ages, more about how as a multinational organisation they related to the states around them (to phrase the question in an anachronistic way) - they very nearly became a state in their own right, when a childless Spanish ruler bequeathed his kingdom to them; his relatives managed to have the will overturned. This is perhaps of some relevance today, as the nation state is declining and the power of international corporations is growing. Read is a good writer, though, and his book is an interesting history of the Crusades even if it does not really throw new light upon its subject.
In Eco's novel Foucault's Pendulum, every conspiracy theory, every mad story about secret societies, all of them involve the Templars. Their dramatic downfall and the bizarre accusations made against them tend to overshadow the rest of their two centuries of history and the purpose for which they worked.
Read aims to set out something of the true history of the Templars, avoiding the sort of speculation that Eco was talking about. His book is aimed squarely at the popular market, with a good deal being a retelling of very well known medieval history. He spends some time explaining some of the background of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, (to establish the importance of the Temple in Jerusalem), and to describe the development of monastic ideals (as the Templars were a monastic order), the authority of the papacy and the background to the Crusades. Most of the book is in fact a history of the Crusades, and my major criticism of it is that Read doesn't make enough effort to narrate the history with the role of the Templars at the centre.
In the end, despite Read's efforts to put the order in its context, it is the downfall of the Templars which forms the most interesting part of the book. In contrast to many narratives of the story, he makes it seem almost inevitable, as the Templars failed to adapt as the Hospitallers did after the fall of Acre and the end of the Western presence in Palestine in 1291. Unlike the other order, they put a low emphasis on learning (particularly in the law which increased massively in importance at around this time), and they were much more dependent on the West (conquering the island of Rhodes effectively made the Hospitallers independent of the control of Western monarchs). The massive psychological blow of the fall of Acre thus made them particularly vulnerable, so that when Philip IV of France moved against them, they were in a poor position to try and stand up to him, and the old fashioned, elderly grand master, James de Molay, found it impossible to make any coherent plan of resistance. Even so, it did take about ten years from the initial accusations to the final suppression of the order, and this is something brought out by Read which is a contrast to many other accounts.
The Templars includes too much background to really be a history of the order; there is scope for a more focused narrative, even one aimed at the same popular audience. I would have wanted to see more on how the Templars became a prototype of the banking houses of the late Middle Ages, more about how as a multinational organisation they related to the states around them (to phrase the question in an anachronistic way) - they very nearly became a state in their own right, when a childless Spanish ruler bequeathed his kingdom to them; his relatives managed to have the will overturned. This is perhaps of some relevance today, as the nation state is declining and the power of international corporations is growing. Read is a good writer, though, and his book is an interesting history of the Crusades even if it does not really throw new light upon its subject.
October 22, 2015
Accurate, detailed, professional, yet a real joy to read!
October 29, 2016
The perfect book for learning the fascinating story of The Knights Templar. Separates the fantasies regarding them from the facts. Published in 1999, it precedes 9/11 enough to recognize how this story of humankind, both Christians and Muslims, at war constantly, and the perceived valor, honor, and glory of that which they consider holy warfare by both sides, is still being played out in the world today.
October 2, 2013
Though this book is primarily about the Templars, it's also a history of the crusades. I actually learned more about the crusades from this relatively small book than I did from one 4 times its size. I guess the only part that irritated me a bit was I felt like the author spent more time than necessary pointing out anything that would justify the crusades. Otherwise 4 stars.
August 13, 2023
The Knights Templar, or more commonly simply titled the Templars are an organization of great historical controversy. As Read explains in his work, centuries of competing ideologies have often obfuscated the truth about this polarizing group. Some see them as romanticized paragons of virtue, while others as thoroughly corrupt and avaricious opportunists. Read steadily maintains that there is likely truth to both sides, but argues that to demonize or saint the group as a whole is entirely foolhardy.
Admittedly, I find Read’s writing style less than appealing. Historical works can be written in a number of styles, but Read’s falls into the “dry” category to my taste. His historical recounting is meticulous. Yet, that scrupulous attention to detail makes for a less readable narrative.
While the Templars are inextricably linked to the Crusades of the medieval European historical era, the narrative struggles to adequately extricate and highlight the history of the Knights Templar in a separate view. At times, it seems to be a litany of names(mostly French) and locations(mostly in Palestine and surrounding Middle Eastern regions). While Read recounts interesting snippets of information on particular individuals, it fails to truly distinguish them as individuals against the backdrop of the overarching Crusader narrative.
Overall, and exceptionally robust compendium of the history of the Crusades and the Knights Templar, but it is difficult at times to distinguish the specific historicity of each from the other.
Admittedly, I find Read’s writing style less than appealing. Historical works can be written in a number of styles, but Read’s falls into the “dry” category to my taste. His historical recounting is meticulous. Yet, that scrupulous attention to detail makes for a less readable narrative.
While the Templars are inextricably linked to the Crusades of the medieval European historical era, the narrative struggles to adequately extricate and highlight the history of the Knights Templar in a separate view. At times, it seems to be a litany of names(mostly French) and locations(mostly in Palestine and surrounding Middle Eastern regions). While Read recounts interesting snippets of information on particular individuals, it fails to truly distinguish them as individuals against the backdrop of the overarching Crusader narrative.
Overall, and exceptionally robust compendium of the history of the Crusades and the Knights Templar, but it is difficult at times to distinguish the specific historicity of each from the other.
June 22, 2019
“Los templarios. Monjes y Guerreros” del novelista, historiador y biógrafo británico Piers Paul Read, es un muy interesante y objetivo ensayo histórico acerca de la historia, auge y caída de la Orden de los Pobres Compañeros de Cristo y del Templo de Salomón, conocidos popularmente y en términos muchos más asequibles, como “la Orden del Temple” o simplemente “Los Templarios”. Alejado totalmente de la incontable basura mística, fantástica y conspiracionista que se ha inventado acerca de esta orden militar y religiosa, P.P. Read aborda el tema desde el espectro historiográfico y documentado. Con una prosa impecable, una narrativa altamente detallada y basado en una investigación meticulosa, el autor nos ubica temporal y espacialmente en la “Tierra Santa” Medieval, así como en la Europa de finales del Siglo XI, ad portas de la Primera Cruzada, contexto en el cual surge la orden monástica y militar de los Pobres Compañeros de Cristo y del Templo de Salomón, destinados inicialmente a proteger viajeros y peregrinos que se dirigían a la recién recuperada ciudad santa de Jerusalén, para convertirse progresivamente en protagonistas de primera línea en la siguientes cruzadas y guerras santas, hasta la caída de Acre en 1291 de la e.c.
Con una exposición bastante objetiva, el autor no cae en el clásico error de divinizar a los Templarios como orden mística guardiana de secretos, reliquias y hasta del linaje de Jesucristo (mistificación creada por los francmasones y el Romanticismo y reafirmada por los best sellers conspiracionistas de nuestros días); y tampoco satanizarlos al extremo de imputarles conductas sodomitas y de adoración a antiguos demonios mesopotámicos. Nos hace ver a un grupo de devotos religiosos, militares y mercenarios con sus virtudes y defectos, que gracias a su capacidad y entrenamiento militar, coraje y habilidad administrativa y financiera, fueron ganando reconocimiento y acumulando riquezas y tierras, hasta el punto de convertirse en lo que el autor denomina como la “primera corporación multinacional”, capaz de movilizar recursos monetarios entre Inglaterra, Europa continental y Medio Oriente y convirtiéndose inclusive en banqueros de reyes, nobles y emperadores. Esta situación desencadenaría el factor clave de su caída, pues en medio de un ambiente de codicia y envidia entre el papado y sus deudores nobles, se forjó una conjura secular y canónica entre el rey Felipe IV de Francia y el papa Clemente V, para disolver la Orden y expropiar sus riquezas y tierras en medio de acusaciones de avaricia, herejía, sodomía, idolatría y blasfemia, y juicios auspiciados por la Inquisición; lo que convierte este complot en el mejor capítulo del libro.
Puede criticarse quizás que el autor se explaya demasiado en el contexto histórico de los Templarios, desviando su atención en relatar las vivencias de personajes y describir eventos importantes para un relato político y global de las Cruzadas. Sin embargo, es imposible hablar de la Orden del Temple sin hablar de Cruzadas, y aunque los Templarios fueron participantes activos de ellas, deben compartir protagonismo con personajes como Urbano II, Ricardo Corazón de León, Saladino, Federico Barbarroja, Bairbas, Al-Ashraf Jalil, entre otros; así como con las otras dos órdenes militares religiosas que en dicho contexto concurrieron: los Hospitalarios y los Caballeros Teutónicos.
Como lo anoté al principio, “Los Templarios” es un muy buen e interesante libro de historia, de fácil lectura y comprensión. Puede servir como un “libro puerta” para ingresar a lecturas de temas relacionados y más especializados como los tres tomos de la inmortal obra de Steven Runciman sobre las cruzadas, la siempre maravillosa lectura de Ricardo Corazon de Leon: El Rey Cruzado de la impecable mano de Jean Flori o el titánico e impresionante volumen de Christopher Tyerman titulado Las guerras de Dios: Una nueva historia de las Cruzadas; así como punto de comparación para otros libros sobre la Orden Templaria. Fanáticos de Dan Brown, teorías de conspiración y seguidores de novelas históricas livianas, favor abstenerse.
Con una exposición bastante objetiva, el autor no cae en el clásico error de divinizar a los Templarios como orden mística guardiana de secretos, reliquias y hasta del linaje de Jesucristo (mistificación creada por los francmasones y el Romanticismo y reafirmada por los best sellers conspiracionistas de nuestros días); y tampoco satanizarlos al extremo de imputarles conductas sodomitas y de adoración a antiguos demonios mesopotámicos. Nos hace ver a un grupo de devotos religiosos, militares y mercenarios con sus virtudes y defectos, que gracias a su capacidad y entrenamiento militar, coraje y habilidad administrativa y financiera, fueron ganando reconocimiento y acumulando riquezas y tierras, hasta el punto de convertirse en lo que el autor denomina como la “primera corporación multinacional”, capaz de movilizar recursos monetarios entre Inglaterra, Europa continental y Medio Oriente y convirtiéndose inclusive en banqueros de reyes, nobles y emperadores. Esta situación desencadenaría el factor clave de su caída, pues en medio de un ambiente de codicia y envidia entre el papado y sus deudores nobles, se forjó una conjura secular y canónica entre el rey Felipe IV de Francia y el papa Clemente V, para disolver la Orden y expropiar sus riquezas y tierras en medio de acusaciones de avaricia, herejía, sodomía, idolatría y blasfemia, y juicios auspiciados por la Inquisición; lo que convierte este complot en el mejor capítulo del libro.
Puede criticarse quizás que el autor se explaya demasiado en el contexto histórico de los Templarios, desviando su atención en relatar las vivencias de personajes y describir eventos importantes para un relato político y global de las Cruzadas. Sin embargo, es imposible hablar de la Orden del Temple sin hablar de Cruzadas, y aunque los Templarios fueron participantes activos de ellas, deben compartir protagonismo con personajes como Urbano II, Ricardo Corazón de León, Saladino, Federico Barbarroja, Bairbas, Al-Ashraf Jalil, entre otros; así como con las otras dos órdenes militares religiosas que en dicho contexto concurrieron: los Hospitalarios y los Caballeros Teutónicos.
Como lo anoté al principio, “Los Templarios” es un muy buen e interesante libro de historia, de fácil lectura y comprensión. Puede servir como un “libro puerta” para ingresar a lecturas de temas relacionados y más especializados como los tres tomos de la inmortal obra de Steven Runciman sobre las cruzadas, la siempre maravillosa lectura de Ricardo Corazon de Leon: El Rey Cruzado de la impecable mano de Jean Flori o el titánico e impresionante volumen de Christopher Tyerman titulado Las guerras de Dios: Una nueva historia de las Cruzadas; así como punto de comparación para otros libros sobre la Orden Templaria. Fanáticos de Dan Brown, teorías de conspiración y seguidores de novelas históricas livianas, favor abstenerse.
June 17, 2022
En strålande läsning som både ger en genomgång av Tempelherreordens historia, och dess psykologi, såsom den kan rekonstrueras.
Den är utmärkt framförallt eftersom den avdramatiserar - detta är inte new-age-varianten av tempelherremagiker, och inte heller Humes intoleranta halvidioter, utan ett enkelt religiöst brödraskap, med militära övertoner. Detta är också bokens uttalade syfte: att beskriva orden utan överdrifter åt någondera slaget.
De administrativa avsnitten är återkommande:
Hur finansierades utrustningen som tempelherrar hade? Svar: de nya ordensmedlemmarna hade plikten att ta med sin egen, och denna skaffades genom gåvor från ordensmedlemmens vänner.
Hur hanterades veteraner? Svar: huvuddelen av dem placerades i rekryteringsstationer och administration. Tempelherrarnas aktiva del var mindre än deras support, för att få fram utrustning till denna del.
Varför gick det så enkelt att arrestera de franska tempelherrarna fredag 13 okt 1307? Svar: för att man var mitt i planeringen av en attack från Cypern för att återta delar av det heliga landet. De enda som fanns kvar i Frankrike var personer som var värdelösa i fronten.
Delar av organisationsvanorna är också intressanta. I epilogen konstateras att samtida källor beskriver tempelherrarna som en organisation som vägrade studier i juridik och retorik. Det enkla var fokuset, rent psykologiskt, och Molay själv citeras i rättegångsprotokollet som en analfabet som flera gånger bad om (och förnekades) dom genom strid, medan motsvarande mästare i Tyskland m.fl. bad om järnbörd. Enligt författaren var frånvaron av jurister en grundorsak till att det var så enkelt att upplösa orden: tempelherrarnas strategi verkar ha varit att visa upp att man blivit torterade till bekännelser och hoppas att man får chansen att duellera sina anklagare. Detta är intressant eftersom det kontrasterar mot den bild som gavs av bland annat "det nya ridderskapet" där de ses som administratörer mer än något annat.
Vad jag framförallt uppskattar är att boken inte utgår från att allt som inte stämmer överens med moderna värderingar är illasinnad propaganda alternativt lögner spridda för att förvrida huvudet på de stackars mindre vetande ickeakademikerna. Det finns alldeles för många historiker som försöker pådyvla historiska figurer attityder som står i strid med deras uttalade uppfattningar såväl som deras handlingar. Humes beskrivning av korstågen är ett exempel; Barbers tidigare nämnda new knighthood är ett annat. Read låter inte som en fanatiker, men han gör minimiansträngningen och studerar faktiskt tempelherrarnas existens på deras egna meriter. Det gör en enorm skillnad.
Jag rekommenderar, som tydligt är, boken. Den är både spännande och detaljerad på rätt sätt. Gillar man riddarsagor kommer de detaljerade beskrivningarna av korstågsslagen och var olika borgar placerades att fascinera. Gillar man studiet av diplomati, är förhandlingarna vid Damietta också välskrivna. De sista knappt 100 sidorna, om ordens nedgång och fall, och kyrkans internpolitik relaterad till denna, är dessutom utmärkta konspirationsteoretikervaccin.
Den är utmärkt framförallt eftersom den avdramatiserar - detta är inte new-age-varianten av tempelherremagiker, och inte heller Humes intoleranta halvidioter, utan ett enkelt religiöst brödraskap, med militära övertoner. Detta är också bokens uttalade syfte: att beskriva orden utan överdrifter åt någondera slaget.
De administrativa avsnitten är återkommande:
Hur finansierades utrustningen som tempelherrar hade? Svar: de nya ordensmedlemmarna hade plikten att ta med sin egen, och denna skaffades genom gåvor från ordensmedlemmens vänner.
Hur hanterades veteraner? Svar: huvuddelen av dem placerades i rekryteringsstationer och administration. Tempelherrarnas aktiva del var mindre än deras support, för att få fram utrustning till denna del.
Varför gick det så enkelt att arrestera de franska tempelherrarna fredag 13 okt 1307? Svar: för att man var mitt i planeringen av en attack från Cypern för att återta delar av det heliga landet. De enda som fanns kvar i Frankrike var personer som var värdelösa i fronten.
Delar av organisationsvanorna är också intressanta. I epilogen konstateras att samtida källor beskriver tempelherrarna som en organisation som vägrade studier i juridik och retorik. Det enkla var fokuset, rent psykologiskt, och Molay själv citeras i rättegångsprotokollet som en analfabet som flera gånger bad om (och förnekades) dom genom strid, medan motsvarande mästare i Tyskland m.fl. bad om järnbörd. Enligt författaren var frånvaron av jurister en grundorsak till att det var så enkelt att upplösa orden: tempelherrarnas strategi verkar ha varit att visa upp att man blivit torterade till bekännelser och hoppas att man får chansen att duellera sina anklagare. Detta är intressant eftersom det kontrasterar mot den bild som gavs av bland annat "det nya ridderskapet" där de ses som administratörer mer än något annat.
Vad jag framförallt uppskattar är att boken inte utgår från att allt som inte stämmer överens med moderna värderingar är illasinnad propaganda alternativt lögner spridda för att förvrida huvudet på de stackars mindre vetande ickeakademikerna. Det finns alldeles för många historiker som försöker pådyvla historiska figurer attityder som står i strid med deras uttalade uppfattningar såväl som deras handlingar. Humes beskrivning av korstågen är ett exempel; Barbers tidigare nämnda new knighthood är ett annat. Read låter inte som en fanatiker, men han gör minimiansträngningen och studerar faktiskt tempelherrarnas existens på deras egna meriter. Det gör en enorm skillnad.
Jag rekommenderar, som tydligt är, boken. Den är både spännande och detaljerad på rätt sätt. Gillar man riddarsagor kommer de detaljerade beskrivningarna av korstågsslagen och var olika borgar placerades att fascinera. Gillar man studiet av diplomati, är förhandlingarna vid Damietta också välskrivna. De sista knappt 100 sidorna, om ordens nedgång och fall, och kyrkans internpolitik relaterad till denna, är dessutom utmärkta konspirationsteoretikervaccin.
October 23, 2018
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
This is a rather exhaustive account not only of the Templars, but of the Crusades and the interactions between Popes and Kings during that period. That’s not a bad thing, though I had expected something a little more focused on the Templars as a group, and maybe more discussion of individual Templars as examples. Instead, there was a lot about individual kings and their reactions — fair enough, there’s probably more material available on them, but I still found it a little disappointing.
Still, it’s kind of fun reading it as someone who has played Assassin’s Creed, and playing spot-the-name-I-know and spot-who-got-assassinated-by-Altair.
I think it was a bit stodgy in places, but informative. And dude, you totally protested too much in the other direction that Templars weren’t ever gay. Let’s be real: the reality is that some of the Templars will have been gay, some bi, many straight, and some will have remained celibate while others won’t have done so.
This is a rather exhaustive account not only of the Templars, but of the Crusades and the interactions between Popes and Kings during that period. That’s not a bad thing, though I had expected something a little more focused on the Templars as a group, and maybe more discussion of individual Templars as examples. Instead, there was a lot about individual kings and their reactions — fair enough, there’s probably more material available on them, but I still found it a little disappointing.
Still, it’s kind of fun reading it as someone who has played Assassin’s Creed, and playing spot-the-name-I-know and spot-who-got-assassinated-by-Altair.
I think it was a bit stodgy in places, but informative. And dude, you totally protested too much in the other direction that Templars weren’t ever gay. Let’s be real: the reality is that some of the Templars will have been gay, some bi, many straight, and some will have remained celibate while others won’t have done so.
August 5, 2024
Totalmente gostoso de ler, historicamente preciso e uma ótima indicação para quem quer saber mais sobre os templários.
March 29, 2012
I expected more from Read, as he is a tremendous writer. However, he used too many pages to describe relationships rather than the Templar knights themselves. I wanted to know more about their tactics, how they came into their wealth, their contributions to international banking, and the ideas they brought back with them from The Holy Land. Also disappointing to me was Read's need to anglicize French names. There's no need to do that, especially considering the preponderance of books on the subject which use the French names.
This also isn't an easy book to read. Read isn't an historian, and this is reflected in how he introduces significant characters almost at random.
Quibbles aside, I enjoyed the book simply because I'm fascinated by The Crusades and that historical epoch. It's not among the more comprehensive books on The Templars, but it is one of the more readable.
Update: The more I think about it, the less I like the book. Read spent an inordinate amount of space to peripheral characters and events rather than the meat of The Templars. He seems to inject the Templars whenever it feels as though a chapter is getting away from him, such as those on Richard the Lionhearted. He's also prone to jumping back and forth with dates, people, locations, and events, which makes his narrative cumbersome and irritating to read.
This also isn't an easy book to read. Read isn't an historian, and this is reflected in how he introduces significant characters almost at random.
Quibbles aside, I enjoyed the book simply because I'm fascinated by The Crusades and that historical epoch. It's not among the more comprehensive books on The Templars, but it is one of the more readable.
Update: The more I think about it, the less I like the book. Read spent an inordinate amount of space to peripheral characters and events rather than the meat of The Templars. He seems to inject the Templars whenever it feels as though a chapter is getting away from him, such as those on Richard the Lionhearted. He's also prone to jumping back and forth with dates, people, locations, and events, which makes his narrative cumbersome and irritating to read.
January 30, 2021
It took me about a year of episodic reading to complete this dense history, but the effort was worth completing. The book will be disappointing to some, because it bursts the bubbles of innuendo, mystery, mysticism, and villainy that surround this military-religious order so central to the story of the Crusades. The history of the order does involve villainy, not characteristic of the order itself and most of its leaders, but of several who belonged to the order and fought not for Christianity, but for their own glory or gold. The history centers mostly around the checkered history of the Crusades, with the jockeying for power, for conquests and political and material gain, motivated also by devotion, racial and religious prejudices, and by the desire for adventure. I would really have had trouble reading the narrative if I didn't already have knowledge of the Medieval monarchs whose histories weave in and out of the Crusades and the Templars.
August 7, 2016
I gave this book only two stars because it was not the book I thought it was going to be. After reading the title and description I was basically expecting a biography on the The Templars. Instead what I got was a history of the crusades. It was overly detailed at times and I felt that the author sometimes jumped around on the time line so I was very confused in parts. Overall it was an interesting but if you are wanting to learn more about the Templars, this is not the book to read.
January 30, 2018
i always found the history and mystery and conspiracy surrounding the Templars to be fascinating... this book doesn't cover any new ground, at least not for me, but it does further explain some aspects of the legacy... just enough unseemliness and oddity to be a worthwhile read... seems there will always be unknowns and unanswerable questions...
November 5, 2025
'The Templars' is a great, easy to follow book that goes over the history of both the crusades and Templar Order. Read gives a mainly unbiased take on these historical events and gives good context/explanations on why certain things happened. However, one complaint I have is that, if you just want to read about the Templars and crusades, the first 60 pages are unrelated as they just go over the history of the three Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) religions. While it is nice to have this information, most people picking this book up probably already know this information and don't need the additional history if they want to just learn about Templars. Other than that, this is a fun book to read if you want to learn more about medieval history!
Want to read
April 25, 2017I am very interested in learning more about the Crusades, but with only a cursory knowledge of this time period of European history, I found the entire first part of this book to go way over my head. Piers Paul Read takes several centuries worth of religion fanaticism and violence and runs through it at breakneck speed, with dozens upon dozens of names, figures, and places dropped and passed by in a blink of an eye. Without a firmer grounding on the subject, I am afraid this book is of little value to me right now. I have several other, meatier books on the Crusades, including God's War and Holy Wars, both of which I will be studying before attempting this one again.
May 18, 2021
A very good factual book about the Templars. Though the author can sometimes be cynical or at least misunderstand the supernatural motives of the Church and the Templars, he presents the facts fairly.
Read
December 22, 2022Przeczytałem jakieś 80 stron i odstawiłem, dla mnie mało interesującą 😥
Read
July 28, 20111099 the first crusade commences. saint Bernard clairvaux encourages people to take the cross and liberate Christian lands. Antioch a city near Antolia falls to muslim forces. The crusade reaches Jerusalem and in time Crusader Kingdoms are established. Political rule is hardly secure and pilgrims are not only harrassed but they are robbed, murdered and kidnapped. Hugh D'payens decides that a military order needs to be created in order to protect Christian pilgrims. Hugh convinces the pope and the Knights Templar is created. The order started with nine people originally but eventually through recruitment the number grew as did the organization.
The nine men were originally stationed in the stable of where Solomon's Temple used to be located. To join the the knights you had to have had combat training, your own horse and your own armor. These were not just ordinary knights they were warrior monks. They did not get married or have relation, they said mass and vespers at their proper times and had very meager diets.
The Order of the Knights Templar grew in both property and soldiery. People left massive donations of money and property to the Templars and many were eager to join. Many people joined as an expiation for previous sins. The order grew so large that most of the people who were part of the order were not knights but rather administrators in charge of managing the property. The Knights templar were answerable only to the Pope.
With their power also grew their supposed arrogance. Throughout the history the author covers all the crusades and all the political alliances that were formed while the Christian kingdoms were around. Things were not always clear cut as one would think. Often times Christian and Muslim kingdoms would form alliances against other Christians or Muslim. The line between Muslim and Christian easily blurred. Middle Christians such as the Syriacs often times preferred Muslim leadership over Roman Catholic leadership. The Crusaders also had very uneasy relationships with the Byzantine Greeks. The Byzantine Greeks were viewed as rather untrustworthy. Often times the crusaders killed as many Middle Eastern Christians as they did Muslims.
Inhabitants of the Crusader Kingdoms became acclimated to the ways of the Middle East. They dressed like Middle Eastern folks and began eating similar kinds of food and having the same sorts of parties. The Catholic church was concerned with moral laxity.
From the Crusader period arose 2 other orders of knights. The First was the hospiatallers who arose around the same time as the Templars. Their main task was to provide hostelry and medical care to pilgrims. Eventually they started taking up knightly responsibilities. The Teutonic Knights as their name suggests were Germanic Knights who emerged during the fourth crusade. While these orders often competed with each other they also cooperated on the battle field Knights were supposed to gather around their flag but when they could not find their flag they would gather around the flag of another order.
In the early 1300's the Holy Land fell. Their was call for another crusade. King Philip of France wanted to merge the Templar with the Hospiatallers. James of Molay was hesitant and eventually refused. The Pope at the time a rather weak man originally opposed King Philip's plans but this lead to an over all persecution of the Templars. They were tortured and the leaders confessed to a variety of abominations. The order disbanded with the Knights becoming Brigands, monk, knights for other orders of just collecting a pension. James of Molay would eventually be burned alive. Poetic Justice that the weak pope and King Phillip died within months after Jame's execution.
The book gives a great over all history of the formation of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It also documents the rise of the monastic movement. The book though seems to be more about the Crusades then it does the Templars. This is also the only major complaint I have about this book. It should have went more in depth about the Templars and what was going on inside their order then what was going on outside the order. I give this 3.5 stars out of 5.
The nine men were originally stationed in the stable of where Solomon's Temple used to be located. To join the the knights you had to have had combat training, your own horse and your own armor. These were not just ordinary knights they were warrior monks. They did not get married or have relation, they said mass and vespers at their proper times and had very meager diets.
The Order of the Knights Templar grew in both property and soldiery. People left massive donations of money and property to the Templars and many were eager to join. Many people joined as an expiation for previous sins. The order grew so large that most of the people who were part of the order were not knights but rather administrators in charge of managing the property. The Knights templar were answerable only to the Pope.
With their power also grew their supposed arrogance. Throughout the history the author covers all the crusades and all the political alliances that were formed while the Christian kingdoms were around. Things were not always clear cut as one would think. Often times Christian and Muslim kingdoms would form alliances against other Christians or Muslim. The line between Muslim and Christian easily blurred. Middle Christians such as the Syriacs often times preferred Muslim leadership over Roman Catholic leadership. The Crusaders also had very uneasy relationships with the Byzantine Greeks. The Byzantine Greeks were viewed as rather untrustworthy. Often times the crusaders killed as many Middle Eastern Christians as they did Muslims.
Inhabitants of the Crusader Kingdoms became acclimated to the ways of the Middle East. They dressed like Middle Eastern folks and began eating similar kinds of food and having the same sorts of parties. The Catholic church was concerned with moral laxity.
From the Crusader period arose 2 other orders of knights. The First was the hospiatallers who arose around the same time as the Templars. Their main task was to provide hostelry and medical care to pilgrims. Eventually they started taking up knightly responsibilities. The Teutonic Knights as their name suggests were Germanic Knights who emerged during the fourth crusade. While these orders often competed with each other they also cooperated on the battle field Knights were supposed to gather around their flag but when they could not find their flag they would gather around the flag of another order.
In the early 1300's the Holy Land fell. Their was call for another crusade. King Philip of France wanted to merge the Templar with the Hospiatallers. James of Molay was hesitant and eventually refused. The Pope at the time a rather weak man originally opposed King Philip's plans but this lead to an over all persecution of the Templars. They were tortured and the leaders confessed to a variety of abominations. The order disbanded with the Knights becoming Brigands, monk, knights for other orders of just collecting a pension. James of Molay would eventually be burned alive. Poetic Justice that the weak pope and King Phillip died within months after Jame's execution.
The book gives a great over all history of the formation of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It also documents the rise of the monastic movement. The book though seems to be more about the Crusades then it does the Templars. This is also the only major complaint I have about this book. It should have went more in depth about the Templars and what was going on inside their order then what was going on outside the order. I give this 3.5 stars out of 5.
October 9, 2020
Outstanding - with flaws, but still outstanding. Occasionally I come across a book providing such exceptional enlightenment that I feel it should be made compulsory reading for the population. The Templars is such a book. Its actual sweep is far grander than just the history of the eponymous military order. He includes a history of the origins and rise of Christianity and of Islam. He describes how there was no fall of the Roman Empire as such. While it is true that the administrative institutions of the Roman Empire disappeared, what is not taught in UK history classes is that the rule of Europe then passed to the Roman Catholic Church. In effect, Europe was a theocratic empire for the thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Reformation and its bitter holy wars, culminating in the Thirty Years' War and then the Second Seige of Vienna and the Battle of Zenta. How many British people have ever heard of the Battle of Lepanto?
The kernel of his narrative is of course the Crusades. The political background to each is described in detail - in places far too much detail - his handling of the evidence is cool and impartial. I now understand what the Albigensian Crusade was all about. Deary me, they took religion seriously in those days...
I think the book could have had a title reflecting its greater sweep than the history of the Knights Templar, since in fact, their history is not particularly at the centre of the narrative. He also details the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights.
The book does have one significant flw, and that is too great a burden of detail about minor historical characters. This is especially a problem in the early chapters, when there's an obsessive amount of detail to wade through about the founding of the Templar order. I almost docked the book a star for this, but in the end decided to give it a pass. Just be prepared to skip ahead when you get bogged down.
The kernel of his narrative is of course the Crusades. The political background to each is described in detail - in places far too much detail - his handling of the evidence is cool and impartial. I now understand what the Albigensian Crusade was all about. Deary me, they took religion seriously in those days...
I think the book could have had a title reflecting its greater sweep than the history of the Knights Templar, since in fact, their history is not particularly at the centre of the narrative. He also details the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights.
The book does have one significant flw, and that is too great a burden of detail about minor historical characters. This is especially a problem in the early chapters, when there's an obsessive amount of detail to wade through about the founding of the Templar order. I almost docked the book a star for this, but in the end decided to give it a pass. Just be prepared to skip ahead when you get bogged down.
October 15, 2018
A decent read on the Knights Templar, from inception to their famous trials and beyond, free from the florid 'mythologizing' of the order, while acknowledging the conspiracy theories and pseudo-histories in a chapter towards the end of the book. The focus is sqaurely on the order, but, during the chapters on the Crusades, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a standard history of the Crusades that occasionally mention the Templars, rather than a Templar-focused history, which I found a little odd, given that the book does stress that the Crusades became the Templars' greatest arena and arguably their reason for existance in the first place, despite everything they had become.
The downfall of the Templars and the verdict of history was succinctly put, with the context put into place, and the book as a whole is a decent one-volume introduction to this most evocative and romantic military order of the middle-ages. Not that there's really much wrong with the wild imaginative romps over the years concerning the Knights Templar, but it is refreshing to read a history based on history (without getting into just how 'inventive' the whole field of history itself is in the first place).
The downfall of the Templars and the verdict of history was succinctly put, with the context put into place, and the book as a whole is a decent one-volume introduction to this most evocative and romantic military order of the middle-ages. Not that there's really much wrong with the wild imaginative romps over the years concerning the Knights Templar, but it is refreshing to read a history based on history (without getting into just how 'inventive' the whole field of history itself is in the first place).
August 24, 2019
Glad to eventually finish the book that has creeped for entire summer. I would not be that stubborn if I had not been trying to write a short story on templars...
The book’s English is too advanced for me, I know it’s not the writer’s fault but my lack of vocabulary... Don’t think I’ll read sth in English literature for some while, because it was very decelerating to read it with a translator in my hand. The book is not written in an academic format and contrary to what’s been written on the title, it is rather tackling with crusader history with touching templar chronology in the background- which is sth indeed I’m ok with. The opening chapter is about a basic introduction of religion and throughout the book special care was given to conflicts between different religious sects in Christendom.
The dissappointing portion was that beneath all its so called “analytical” language, and despite cross-referring to opposite views in the conclusion some of the comments are offensive about Islam, it is neither fair nor necessary. Yet maybe I’ll give another chance to ita translated version as I have to confess I could not follow some portion of the story properly, and the comorehensiveness of the book and templar’s unique story itself deserves it.
The book’s English is too advanced for me, I know it’s not the writer’s fault but my lack of vocabulary... Don’t think I’ll read sth in English literature for some while, because it was very decelerating to read it with a translator in my hand. The book is not written in an academic format and contrary to what’s been written on the title, it is rather tackling with crusader history with touching templar chronology in the background- which is sth indeed I’m ok with. The opening chapter is about a basic introduction of religion and throughout the book special care was given to conflicts between different religious sects in Christendom.
The dissappointing portion was that beneath all its so called “analytical” language, and despite cross-referring to opposite views in the conclusion some of the comments are offensive about Islam, it is neither fair nor necessary. Yet maybe I’ll give another chance to ita translated version as I have to confess I could not follow some portion of the story properly, and the comorehensiveness of the book and templar’s unique story itself deserves it.
October 5, 2011
The Templars, by Piers Paul Read, is an historical book of the Crusades. It tells of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic history, with many deaths and births. This three part text is informational and well written. It tells of the Temples and the Orders, the kings and the queens, the land and the sea, spanning all over Europe. It tells of treachery and truce, love and loss, and the ways of the medieval people. Also included is the separation of the sexes, the ways of the knights, and the punishment of wrong doing.
I read this book for my literary group in my language arts class. I didn’t like the book because it is nowhere near being a novel. It is historical and boring. I was expecting a thrilling novel and was handed a dreadful nightmare. Only people who enjoy reading history should read this. It is hard to get into a good reading pattern because it hops through history and is somewhat choppy. It could be considered a college history book, for I understood only half of it.
I read this book for my literary group in my language arts class. I didn’t like the book because it is nowhere near being a novel. It is historical and boring. I was expecting a thrilling novel and was handed a dreadful nightmare. Only people who enjoy reading history should read this. It is hard to get into a good reading pattern because it hops through history and is somewhat choppy. It could be considered a college history book, for I understood only half of it.
August 13, 2017
This is a good book about the Templars however it focuses heavily on relationships between the primary players in Templar history. The beginning and closing chapters I found the most useful following the establishment, Islam's origins, Templar Code and life, and finally the fall of the order. I felt that the most important battles of the order's history should have been included and more detail about some of the political maneuverings of kings, Masters of the Order and some of the Popes involved. Overall a good read for those interested in Templar history but for those with a passing interest I'd skip this one.
October 30, 2018
I was expecting a detailed history of Templars and what I received was a book that focuses on crusades. Last couple of chapters about the decline and end of Templars are more interesting since the focus is on them. This book would have been much more interesting if similiar level of explaining was there about the rise of Templars as well. I found it really confusing (and boring)when lot of names, titles, relationships and places are thrown in randomly. It is a slow and dry read and I really struggled to finish this book.
January 21, 2020
Excellent historic book discovers many interesting things on religions, crusades and power fighting. It's a real gem for fans of history of medieval politic and society and early and medieval Church and Papacy. This profound dipping into the conjugated subjects shifts definitely the main focus from Templars which is not good due to the book's title. The author should give more space for templars' involvements into actions, descriptions of their lives, rites etc. Nevertheless, I've enjoyed reading the book mostly.
July 20, 2014
An in-depth historical account of the creation, life and destruction of the Order of the Knights Templars. While the research and information being presented appears to be very good, the book was a hard read and took a while to get into.
November 2, 2025
Es el tercer libro que leo sobre templarios. Primero fue Templarios y la palabra perdida de Mariano Urresti, luego Templarios. Una historia muy presente de Pastora Barahona. El primero hace hincapié en el ocultismo, supersticiones, demagogias y extrañas coincidencias. El libro de Barahona es extensísimo y no pude encontrar información sobre ella o sus libros; de hecho, hasta le escribí a la editorial. Ella es tremendamente histórica y documental, y cuenta cabalmente cómo una religión bastardeada pasó a convertirse en uno de los poderes seculares de mayor influencia dentro del Imperio Romano.
El libro de Read lo estiré demasiado; tal vez venía cansado con los otros dos. Por momentos aspira a ser histórico, con una innumerable cantidad de citas bibliográficas, y por momentos cómico. Al final, Read habla sobre cómo la mentira se hizo cada vez más grande: la Cabeza de Cristo, los huesos de la Virgen, el Arca de la Alianza, y cómo la teoría en los libros se convirtió en verdad. Pero no solo fue motivo de periodistas y escritores que neceaban y explotaban el negocio, también cuenta cómo la historia se convirtió y se tergiversó en mito. La primera investigación “alternativa” vino en 1789 con la Revolución francesa y la monarquía ejecutada en la Torre del Temple de París. En el siglo XIX Hans Prutz los trató de adoración de demonios por su influencia con los cántaros; en cambio, Henry Charles Lea declaró la completa inocencia y que los actos hablaron históricamente por sí mismos. Compara la propaganda de Felipe el Hermoso con la de Goebbels, y las torturas con las de NKVD y la Gestapo.
Hay citas fuertes de historiadores. Diderot dice: “un pedazo de roca que no vale una simple gota de sangre humana…(…)” A Runciman lo indignaba particularmente el saqueo que los latinos hicieron de Constantinopla: “jamás hubo un crimen contra la humanidad mayor que la cuarta cruzada”. Christopher Tyerman sobre esto último señala que es un juicio curioso de emitir, no habiendo pasado diez años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Napoleón tuvo éxito donde Guillaume de Nogaret había fracasado, llevando a París a un Papa cautivo para que contemplara impórtente como el aventurero corso se coronó a sí mismo emperador en la catedral de Notre-Dame.
Explica también, cuando el general Allenby tomó posesión de Jerusalén tras derrotar a los turcos en Gaza en 1917, era consciente de la significación histórica de lo que hacía. Un cable del Ministerio de Guerra británico decía: “se sugiere insistentemente desmontar en la entrada. El emperador germano entró cabalgando y se corrió el comentario ‘un hombre mejor que él caminó’. Las ventajas del contraste serán obvias”. El hombre mejor al que aludía el Ministerio de Guerra no era Jesús, que entró a la ciudad a lomo de mula, sino el suegro de Mahoma, el califa Umar. El general Allenby desmontó y entró a la ciudad santa a pie.
“….cuyos motivos puros transformaban el homicidio, que era malo, en malecidio -matanza del mal- que era bueno…”
“El consenso entre historiadores, que alguna vez vieron las cruzadas como un débil pretexto para el pillaje y la rapiña….”
“El amor humano es infinitamente que el amor de Dios y el amor matrimonial, menos que el amor entre amigos…(…)”
Se habla de sodomía y contrastes como John Boswell y Sir Richard Southern….
“Nuestras tropas —escribió Radulfo de Caen— hervían a los paganos adultos en marmitas; empalaban a los niños en espetones y los devoraban asados.”
“Los primeros cruzados esperaban encontrar en Siria y Palestina aborígenes salvajes y paganos depravados; pero aquellos que se quedaron en Oriente Medio se vieron obligados a reconocer que la cultura de la Palestina árabe —musulmana, cristiana y judía— era más evolucionada y sofisticada que la de cada…(…)”
“Según Bahr al-Fava’id ….(…) cualquiera que crea que su Dios procede de las entrañas de una mujer está totalmente loco, no debería hablar ni se le debería hablar, y no tiene ni inteligencia ni fe…”
“La cruz de la Cúpula de Roca fue retirada y arrastrada por la ciudad dos días, golpeada con palos por los musulmanes exultantes…(…)”
“Tenía la autoridad sobre todo el mundo, por debajo de Dios pero por encima del hombre: alguien que juzga a todos y que no es juzgado por nadie…(…)”
Olazábal 1574
“Federico no mostraba por Mahoma mayor respeto que por Cristo, al considerarlo junto con Moisés, uno de los tres ‘impostores o embusteros’ del mundo…(…)”
“A través de Fakhr and-Din, Federico le pedía al sultán que consultara a sus eruditos sobre profundas cuestiones filosóficas como el origen del universo, la inmortalidad del alma y la lógica de Aristóteles…(…)”
“Y había una amplia opción de iglesias cristianas: católica, griega ortodoxa, maronita, armenia, jacobita y nestoriana….(…)”
El libro de Read lo estiré demasiado; tal vez venía cansado con los otros dos. Por momentos aspira a ser histórico, con una innumerable cantidad de citas bibliográficas, y por momentos cómico. Al final, Read habla sobre cómo la mentira se hizo cada vez más grande: la Cabeza de Cristo, los huesos de la Virgen, el Arca de la Alianza, y cómo la teoría en los libros se convirtió en verdad. Pero no solo fue motivo de periodistas y escritores que neceaban y explotaban el negocio, también cuenta cómo la historia se convirtió y se tergiversó en mito. La primera investigación “alternativa” vino en 1789 con la Revolución francesa y la monarquía ejecutada en la Torre del Temple de París. En el siglo XIX Hans Prutz los trató de adoración de demonios por su influencia con los cántaros; en cambio, Henry Charles Lea declaró la completa inocencia y que los actos hablaron históricamente por sí mismos. Compara la propaganda de Felipe el Hermoso con la de Goebbels, y las torturas con las de NKVD y la Gestapo.
Hay citas fuertes de historiadores. Diderot dice: “un pedazo de roca que no vale una simple gota de sangre humana…(…)” A Runciman lo indignaba particularmente el saqueo que los latinos hicieron de Constantinopla: “jamás hubo un crimen contra la humanidad mayor que la cuarta cruzada”. Christopher Tyerman sobre esto último señala que es un juicio curioso de emitir, no habiendo pasado diez años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Napoleón tuvo éxito donde Guillaume de Nogaret había fracasado, llevando a París a un Papa cautivo para que contemplara impórtente como el aventurero corso se coronó a sí mismo emperador en la catedral de Notre-Dame.
Explica también, cuando el general Allenby tomó posesión de Jerusalén tras derrotar a los turcos en Gaza en 1917, era consciente de la significación histórica de lo que hacía. Un cable del Ministerio de Guerra británico decía: “se sugiere insistentemente desmontar en la entrada. El emperador germano entró cabalgando y se corrió el comentario ‘un hombre mejor que él caminó’. Las ventajas del contraste serán obvias”. El hombre mejor al que aludía el Ministerio de Guerra no era Jesús, que entró a la ciudad a lomo de mula, sino el suegro de Mahoma, el califa Umar. El general Allenby desmontó y entró a la ciudad santa a pie.
“….cuyos motivos puros transformaban el homicidio, que era malo, en malecidio -matanza del mal- que era bueno…”
“El consenso entre historiadores, que alguna vez vieron las cruzadas como un débil pretexto para el pillaje y la rapiña….”
“El amor humano es infinitamente que el amor de Dios y el amor matrimonial, menos que el amor entre amigos…(…)”
Se habla de sodomía y contrastes como John Boswell y Sir Richard Southern….
“Nuestras tropas —escribió Radulfo de Caen— hervían a los paganos adultos en marmitas; empalaban a los niños en espetones y los devoraban asados.”
“Los primeros cruzados esperaban encontrar en Siria y Palestina aborígenes salvajes y paganos depravados; pero aquellos que se quedaron en Oriente Medio se vieron obligados a reconocer que la cultura de la Palestina árabe —musulmana, cristiana y judía— era más evolucionada y sofisticada que la de cada…(…)”
“Según Bahr al-Fava’id ….(…) cualquiera que crea que su Dios procede de las entrañas de una mujer está totalmente loco, no debería hablar ni se le debería hablar, y no tiene ni inteligencia ni fe…”
“La cruz de la Cúpula de Roca fue retirada y arrastrada por la ciudad dos días, golpeada con palos por los musulmanes exultantes…(…)”
“Tenía la autoridad sobre todo el mundo, por debajo de Dios pero por encima del hombre: alguien que juzga a todos y que no es juzgado por nadie…(…)”
Olazábal 1574
“Federico no mostraba por Mahoma mayor respeto que por Cristo, al considerarlo junto con Moisés, uno de los tres ‘impostores o embusteros’ del mundo…(…)”
“A través de Fakhr and-Din, Federico le pedía al sultán que consultara a sus eruditos sobre profundas cuestiones filosóficas como el origen del universo, la inmortalidad del alma y la lógica de Aristóteles…(…)”
“Y había una amplia opción de iglesias cristianas: católica, griega ortodoxa, maronita, armenia, jacobita y nestoriana….(…)”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
Siempre alguien tiene que decir las cosas, temprano o tarde, pero se dicen. Piers Paul Read es el autor de esta historia que resume doscientos años en que los Templarios existieron. Es un libro lleno de datos, donde Paul menciona innumerables nombres de los involucrados en la creación y posterior desaparición de la orden, todos pertenecientes a la iglesia católica romana. Desde la creación el objetivo es claro, mantener vivo el mito. Muchos creen en lo místico e irrefutable de ello, otros saben que es un constructo, pero que es conveniente conservarlo, no hay algo mejor que lo sustituya (B. Fuller). Lo sorpresivo para muchos puede ser que desde el primer milenio se conoció como se moldeó el mito hasta el grado de convencer que morir, y matar, por ello estaba mas que justificable. Europa del sur, euroasia y Africa del norte, principalmente, se mantuvo en guerra para hacerla "una" alrededor de esta creencia. Los aportes dejados son de valorar, las guerras son, históricamente, las que empujan muchas áreas del conocimiento. En este tiempo de los Templarios, entre 1119 y 1314, se construyeron gran cantidad de infraestructura, elaboraron mapas, censos, leyes, entre otras, pero quizás fue el crear un sistema financiero el mejor legado. Las guerras requieren un flujo financiero que funcione si se quiere trascender fronteras geográficas. Los Templarios estuvieron desde el insular Reino Unido hasta los territorios que comprenden lo denominado "Tierra Santa" (Palestina, Israel, Líbano, Egipto, Irak, Siria, Turkia). En algunos territorios con mas presencia que otros, con el objetivo de "proteger" el mito, recuperar y hacer exclusivo, para el cristianismo católico, los lugares "sagrados". Paul muestra que la orden rompe con la tradición pusilánime del cristianismo de "poner la otra mejilla" para utilizar todos los medios y defender, recuperar, lo que se considera correcto. En doscientos años de vida la historia de las instituciones cambia mucho, la misma institución que los forma es la misma que los condena, antes la justificación estaba presta, ahora es la condenación. ¿Era por la supuesta riqueza acumulada por los templarios?, Paul parece decir otra cosa. Lo que si queda en especulación es esa supuesta fortuna, que ha hecho a escritores y a la industria audiovisual hacer su propia fortuna.
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February 12, 2022Fascinating topic, but in general, very poor execution. This reads rather worse than a textbook. Textbooks are boring, but at least they seem invested in helping the reader to learn the material. This one was equally boring, but also nearly impossible to follow. A dizzying myriad of names and long-extinct nations--or worse, provinces of nations--were crammed into each and every sentence without introduction, explanation, or any distinguishing characteristics. My husband and I attempted to read this aloud to one another, and aside from the first few chapters (which summarized the Old Testament and the early Christian church in sweeping epic fashion), we finally realized that we were both mentally glazing over. We had no idea who these people were, where they were from, or why we cared. The author clearly knows the topic exceedingly well, but didn't recognize that if writing for an audience less in the know than he was, he'd lose us in the dust.
January 25, 2022
Reads like a Medieval telephone directory. A massive cast of characters, up to 10 new people are regularly introduced per page. Then they die. Honestly, your eyes glaze over.
Rather than a chronological procession of characters, Piers Paul Read would have been better to develop a few themes. Treasure, lust, thirst for blood, sex. When the themes are mentioned it becomes interesting, but quickly lapses back into the honor board of past knights and their years of service (eg Hugh of Boredom was a Grand Master from 1194 - 1207). Hugh could have been an A Grade pennant winner at Shoreditch Golf Club, or did he actually fly his pennant over Jerusalem?
We don't find out too much about what the Templars actually did. Although they were good at prayers, arguments, zealotry, and were excellent stone masons. Castles being their main legacy.
Rather than a chronological procession of characters, Piers Paul Read would have been better to develop a few themes. Treasure, lust, thirst for blood, sex. When the themes are mentioned it becomes interesting, but quickly lapses back into the honor board of past knights and their years of service (eg Hugh of Boredom was a Grand Master from 1194 - 1207). Hugh could have been an A Grade pennant winner at Shoreditch Golf Club, or did he actually fly his pennant over Jerusalem?
We don't find out too much about what the Templars actually did. Although they were good at prayers, arguments, zealotry, and were excellent stone masons. Castles being their main legacy.
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