Knights Templar, The

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.

This book's greatest virtue is its simplicity, in that it is the story of the Knights Templar stripped to the basic facts. From Hugues De Payen to Jacques De Molay, there isn't time for a dull moment in a fast paced narrative detailing the major battles and known individuals that made up the Knights Templar, and revealing some revealing information about life in 'Outremer' in the middle ages such as the routine employment of 'Saracens' in the administrative sections of the Templar's activites and their role in the invention of the banking system.The fourth section details some of the sketchier elements of Templar history and mythology, but the author is to be commended for sticking with the known facts and only proposing some of the more outlandish theories as speculation. The links with the Portugese Knights of Christ are particularly interesting, and I will look forward to exploring this subject further. Highly recommended.

This short volume is very easy to read and covers all the points of the Templar History.It is only an introduction and if you want to find more about the Templars I recommend "The Dramatic History of the Knights Templarby Piers Paul Read "The book contains 3 maps with all the main locations but hardly any details and no pictures. It has a very good selected bibliography and footnotes.As the history spans for more than 2 centuries the book concentrates on the politics of the order rather than in any specific event.It can be read in a couple of hours.

I had heard many myths regarding the Knights Templar so this book offered a fair and balanced view both of perceived historical facts and more fanciful conjecture.It is written in an easy style which makes the read enjoyable as well as informative.

An excellent introduction to the subject. Gives plenty of background information about the Crusader period of the 12th and 13th century and puts the templars into context. The book highlights the lack of written period documents about the templars but doesn't put forward any silly conjecture.

GREAT BOOK

The book was fantastic

Read this good book, which dispels some myths, through sticking to the facts. Good summary at the end of the book, and reference to the mysteries surrounding the Templars, acknowledging that there is little proof of the theories.