A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive look at the mysterious history of the Order of the Knights Templar • Presents the myths and historical truths of the Knights Templar, the elite warrior army of the pope who were destroyed as heretics some 700 years ago • Examines the evidence of the Templar connections to the Assassins and the Cathars • Includes more than 170 period illustrations and contemporary photos of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem Despite the increasing scholarship devoted to the study of the Templar order, founded in 1119, the mystery surrounding the Templars endures. Secret societies from the Freemasons to the Ordo Templi Orientis claim descent from this religious order of warrior-monks. As the private army of the pope, the Knights Templar were initially established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land but grew to become one of the most powerful organizations in the Middle Ages. With period illustrations from manuscripts from the Crusades, interpretive romantic paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary photos by Steven Brooke and others of former Templar strongholds in Europe and Jerusalem, James Wasserman, author of the bestselling The Templars and the Assassins, provides a fascinating history of the Order and the many mysteries and legends that surround it. Wasserman presents the evidence for the Templar connection to mystical Islamic organizations such as the Assassins as well as their ties to “heretical” groups such as the Cathars, who were targeted by a crusade in southern France to expunge the challenge they presented to the orthodoxy of their time. In addition to providing an overview of the Templars’ actions during the Crusades, Wasserman revisits the trial and the charges leveled against them, showing how the Order was ruthlessly crushed. He also explores the nature of the treasure they left behind, which has fueled popular imagination for centuries.

An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar

The definitive account of history's most infamous trial, following the doomed Order of the Knights Templar from scandal to suppression. The trial of the Knights Templar is one of the most infamous in history. Accused of heresy by the king of France, the Templars were arrested and imprisoned, had their goods seized and their monasteries ransacked. Under brutal interrogation and torture, many made shocking confessions: denial of Christ, desecration of the Cross, sex acts, and more. This narrative follows the everyday reality of the trial, from the early days of scandal and scheming in 1305, via torture, imprisonment and the dissolution of the order, to 1314, when leaders Jacques de Molay and Geoffroy de Charnay were burned at the stake. Through first-hand testimony and written records of the interrogations of 231 French Templars, this book illuminates the stories of hundreds of ordinary members, some of whom testified at the trial, as well as the many others who denied the charges or retracted their confessions. This is a deeply researched and immersive account that gives a striking vision of the relentless persecution, and the oft-underestimated resistance, of the once-mighty Knights Templar.

The Persecution of the Knights Templar: Scandal, Torture, Trial

Chronicles the rise of the Knights Templar, who, during the Crusades, blended religious fervor with military prowess to become a powerful political force in Europe.

The Knights Templar

In 1099, the city of Jerusalem, a possession of the Islamic Caliphate for over four-hundred years, fell to an army of European knights intent on restoring the Cross to the Holy Lands. From the ranks of these holy warriors emerged an order of monks trained in both scripture and the military arts, an order that would protect and administer Christendom's prized conquest for almost a century: the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, or the Templars. In this articulate and engaging history, Piers Paul Read explores the rise, the catastrophic fall, and the far-reaching legacy of these knights who took, and briefly held, the most bitterly contested citadel in the monotheistic West. Drawing on the most recent scholarship, and writing with authority and candor, Read chronicles the history of the blood-splattered monks who still infiltrate modernity in literature, as the inspiration for secret societies, and in the backyard fantasies of any child with access to a stick and a garbage can lid. More than armed holy men, the Templars also represented the first uniformed standing army in the Western world. Sustaining their military order required vast sums of money, and, to that end, a powerful multinational corporation formed. The prosperity that European financiers enjoyed, from the efficient management of Levantine possessions and from pioneering developments in the field of international banking, would help jump-start Europe's long-slumbering Dark Age economy. In 1307, the French king, Philip IV, expropriated Templar lands, unleashing a wave of repression that would crest five years later. After Templar leaders broke down and confessed, under torture, to blasphemy, heresy, and sodomy, Pope Clement V suppressed the Order in 1312. Was it guilty as charged? And what relevance has the story to our own times? In this remarkable history, Piers Paul Read explores the Crusades and the individual biographies of the many colorful characters that fought them.

The Templars

For the first time ever, a source from within reveals the shocking truth that the roots of the Knights Templar, and thus those of Freemasonry, were actually more deeply linked to Islam than to Christianity. The Knights Templar of the Middle East breaks new ground in this well-tilled sphere and is guaranteed to stir more fires of controversy than any other book to date on Freemasonry and Templars. Prince Michael writes with sterling scholarship, making full use of his access to libraries of the secret orders of which he is a member. The book delves deep to examine the true roots of this worldwide society, revealing both historical events from Europe to the Middle East and the author's own deeply personal, perilous journey to research and expose this hidden history. Going against the accepted history of the Freemason society as evolved from a remnant of Knights Templar who settled in Scotland, The Knights Templar of the Middle East takes readers much farther back to the true historical biblical land, based in Western Arabia rather than Palestine. The true secret of the Inner Circle of the Order of the Templars was such that, had they revealed it, the knowledge would have rocked the cradle of Christian and Judaic beliefs.

The Knights Templar of the Middle East

Historian Ralls has written an authoritative source book on the fascinating history behind the most famous military religious order of the Crusades--the Knights Templar. This encyclopedia also includes a wealth of information on the key Templar people, places, events, and more.

Knights Templar Encyclopedia

The trial of the Templars in the British Isles (1308-1311) is a largely unexplored area of history. Unlike the trial in France, where the Templars were tortured into confessing to unspeakable activities, in the British Isles there were no burnings and only three confessions after torture. Several Templars went missing, most of whom later reappeared. Outsiders told stories of abominable Templar rituals, secret meetings and murders at the dead of night, but all these tales turned out to be mere rumour. This book is based on extensive research into the records of the trial of the Templars and other unpublished medieval documents recording their arrest, imprisonment and trial, and the surveys of their property. It traces the course of this, the first heresy trial in the British Isles, from the arrests in January 1308 to the dissolution of the Order, and shows how, by judicious selection of material, the inquisitors made the scanty evidence against the Templars appear convincing. The book includes a list of all the Templars in the British Isles at the time of the arrests, and a gazetteer of the Templars' major properties in the British Isles.

The Knights Templar on Trial

The Everyday Life of the Templars

A richly detailed, sometimes challenging work, Charles Addison's The History of the Knights Templar traces the rise and fall of this legendary religious-military organization. Addison was an official member of the Templar Inner Table when he composed his definitive study. This newly edited 2018 edition from The Templar Press updates some of Addison's more archaic wording into modern English.

The History of the Knights Templar

Filled with surprising details, The Knights Templar tells the story of the chivalric orders founded during the Crusades, their rise and decline, and how their religious and military aspects were reconciled. It chronologically follows from the foundation of the Knights of St Peter in 1053 to the Crusades, from the Teutonic Knights to the Reconquista and on to the Hospitallers' ventures in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Selected lectures During the early twelfth century, the Knights Templar were established, allegedly, to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. In the process, the knights became famous for their pioneer banking system, crusading zeal, and strict vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty. As membership grew to around 15,000, they came to be seen as a threat by Philippe le Beau of France, who disbanded the group in 1307 and tortured their leaders for confessions of heretical practices. King Philippe accused the order of heresy, sodomy, and blasphemy. Recent fictional works and popular histories have created a renewed interest in the mysterious Knights Templar, with numerous contradictory and fantastic claims made about them, thus adding to the enigma surrounding the warrior monks of France. In this unique collection of lectures and writings by Rudolf Steiner, a new perspective emerges. Based on his spiritual perceptions, he speaks of the Templars' connection to the esoteric tradition of St. John and the Holy Grail and their spiritual dedication to Christ. He describes a secret order within the Templars and their strange rituals. He also sheds light on the Templars' attitude toward the Roman Church and the spiritual forces that inspired their torture and confessions.

Did the Knights Templar survive the arrests on October 13th, 1307? The question is steeped in controversy. During research on the Order in England, the author was contacted by a leading member who wanted to share the unusual and secret history of his family. The Revised Edition includes stunning New Photos & Star Charts. Well researched & annotated

The Secret Dossier of a Knight Templar of the Sangreal

The Knights Templar were among the most famous of Christian military orders. Created after the First Crusade of 1096 and endorsed by the Catholic Church in 1129, the Order grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights were some of the best equipped, trained and disciplined fighting units of the Crusades. But when the Holy Land was lost and the Templars suffered crushing defeats, support for the Order faded and rumours about their secret initiation ceremony created mistrust. When the Order suddenly disappeared, disbanded by the Pope, it gave rise to speculation and legends that have kept the name ‘Templar’ alive. From Abbasids to Zion, The A–Z of the Knights Templar is an invaluable reference of the places, people and themes of the Crusades, the Knights Templar and their legacy.

The Pocket A-Z of the Knights Templar

The age of the Crusades encompassed the rise and fall of a singular Order of fighting men, equally devoted to God, war and the defense of Palestine. After the Crusades the Templars obeyed no one except the Pope and acquired land and castles by gift, conquest and purchase, becoming a church within the Church. They were bankers, merchants, diplomats and tax gatherers, and though they themselves were poor, the wealth of their Order was legendary. As the nation states arose the Templars were accused of heresy, treachery, sodomy, usury, blasphemy and idolatry. The author assesses the faults and fine qualities of the brotherhood, examining the reasons for its initial allure and eventual, ignominious obliteration.

A fascinating classical account of the great religiousand military brotherhood of the Middle Ages.

The History of the Knights Templars

A thorough examination of the history of the Templars in Spain and Portugal • Explores the mysteries surrounding the location of Templar enclaves • Examines the Templar connections to the Cathars and to the troubadour culture • Looks at the Order’s influence in the kingdoms of Aragon and Catalonia and the Spanish monarchy itself The rise and fall of the Templar Order constitutes a fundamental and decisive episode in medieval history, and the destruction of the Order constitutes a pivotal point that fundamentally altered the direction of society. While much is known about the history of the Templar Order in France, home of its chief commandery in Paris, and in the Latin States of the Middle East, their contribution to events on the Iberian peninsula has until now remained obscure and unexplored. Renowned Templar scholar Juan García Atienza reveals here the important role the Templars played in the Reconquista that saw the Moors driven out of Spain and demonstrates the great influence they exerted in the kingdoms of Castille and Navarre and the territories of Catalonia and Aragon. He examines the mysterious connections between the Templars and the Cathars and troubadours as well as the mystery surrounding the location of all the Templar enclaves in the Iberian peninsula. He also unveils the important role the Templars had as teachers of the Spanish king James I, known as the Conqueror, whose attempt to establish a universal theocratic empire may have been a reflection of Templar ambitions, and explores the Order’s suppression in Spain and how it survived in Portugal by simply changing its name.

The Knights Templar in the Golden Age of Spain

"In this fast-paced historical detective work, bestselling author Freddy Silva uses rare sources to upturn history and uncover the Templars' greatest and least-known accomplishment. Conventional history claims that in 1118 nine men formed a brotherhood in Jerusalem called the Knights Templar. But what if it could be shown that not only was this group greater in number, but they existed far earlier, and together with a secret group of monks named the Order of Sion they planned one of the most daring endeavors in history: the creation of Europe's first nation-state. But what motivated the Templars to establish this virgin territory 2000 miles west of Jerusalem? Was it related to a discovery under Temple Mount, a secret that required protection from the Church and for which the knights would rather die than reveal? What did their inner brotherhood know about an ancient esoteric practice called 'raising the dead'? Why did they build initiation chambers? Why the obsession with John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene? Why did Portuguese Templar Masters vow to protect a holy bloodline? And could their most famous chapel be the actual resting place of the one object most associated with the knights - the Grail? This original, eye-opening account will engage and surprise even the most seasoned Templar enthusiasts"--Publisher's description.

First Templar Nation

A look at the famed medieval Catholic order, with an emphasis on military history—includes numerous illustrations. There are many books about the Knights Templar, the medieval military order which played a key role in the crusades against the Muslims in the Holy Land, the Iberian peninsula, and elsewhere in Europe. What is seldom explored is the military context in which they operated. This book focuses on how this military order prosecuted its wars. The order was founded as a response to attacks on pilgrims in the Holy Land, and it was involved in countless battles and sieges, always at the forefront of crusading warfare. This absorbing study examines why they were such an important aspect of medieval warfare on the frontiers of Christendom for nearly two hundred years. The author shows how they were funded and supplied, how they organized their forces on campaign and on the battlefield, and the strategies and tactics they employed in the various theaters of warfare in which they fought. Templar leadership and command and control are examined, and sections cover their battles and campaigns, fortifications, and castles.

The Knights Templar at War, 1120–1312

“Dan Jones is an entertainer, but also a bona fide historian. Seldom does one find serious scholarship so easy to read.” – The Times, Book of the Year A New York Times bestseller, this major new history of the knights Templar is “a fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger" – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem A faltering war in the middle east. A band of elite warriors determined to fight to the death to protect Christianity’s holiest sites. A global financial network unaccountable to any government. A sinister plot founded on a web of lies. Jerusalem 1119. A small group of knights seeking a purpose in the violent aftermath of the First Crusade decides to set up a new order. These are the first Knights Templar, a band of elite warriors prepared to give their lives to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next two hundred years, the Templars would become the most powerful religious order of the medieval world. Their legend has inspired fervent speculation ever since. In this groundbreaking narrative history, Dan Jones tells the true story of the Templars for the first time in a generation, drawing on extensive original sources to build a gripping account of these Christian holy warriors whose heroism and alleged depravity have been shrouded in myth. The Templars were protected by the pope and sworn to strict vows of celibacy. They fought the forces of Islam in hand-to-hand combat on the sun-baked hills where Jesus lived and died, finding their nemesis in Saladin, who vowed to drive all Christians from the lands of Islam. Experts at channeling money across borders, they established the medieval world’s largest and most innovative banking network and waged private wars against anyone who threatened their interests. Then, as they faced setbacks at the hands of the ruthless Mamluk sultan Baybars and were forced to retreat to their stronghold in Cyprus, a vindictive and cash-strapped King of France set his sights on their fortune. His administrators quietly mounted a damning case against the Templars, built on deliberate lies and false testimony. On Friday October 13, 1307, hundreds of brothers were arrested, imprisoned and tortured, and the order was disbanded amid lurid accusations of sexual misconduct and heresy. They were tried by the Pope in secret proceedings and their last master was brutally tortured and burned at the stake. But were they heretics or victims of a ruthlessly repressive state? Dan Jones goes back to the sources tobring their dramatic tale, so relevant to our own times, to life in a book that is at once authoritative and compulsively readable.

For centuries, historians and novelists have portrayed the Knights Templar as avaricious and power-hungry villains. Indignant at the discrepancies between fact and fantasy, Pernoud draws a different portrait of these Christian warriors.

The beginning of the Templar Order is shrouded in mystery. Little is known about its foundation, inner workings, or its rapid growth. Such a lack of knowledge can lead to all sorts of speculation and, at times, bizarre theories. This book--the result of a conference on the theme at Emerson College in England--offers new, well-grounded perspectives that utilize both esoteric and exoteric sources. From varying perspectives, the contributors tackle key questions relating to the formation of the Templar Order, as well as its goals and intentions. The authors explore the spiritual and historical background of the Knights Templar, as well as the Order's significance today and its continuing impulse for the future. With its broad scope, this stimulating anthology encourages independent, open-minded enquiry and research. The Knights Templar features contributions from Peter Tradowsky, Gil McHattie, Horst Biehl, Margaret Jonas, Rolf Speckner, Sylvia Francke, Simon Cade-Williams, Jaap van der Haar, Alfred Kon, David Lenker, Peter Snow, Christine Gruwez, Frans Lutters, Walter Johannes Stein, and Siegfried Rudel.

Have you seen the movie The Da Vinci Code? It discussed about the Knights Templar in a fictional way. This time, however, you will be learning about the Knights Templar based on historical facts. It’s important to know the truth about movie characters and plots so that you will be able to discern truth from make-believe in a consistent manner. Secure a copy of this book today!

Knights Templar the Fellow-Soldiers of Christ | Knights Templar Kids Book | Children's Medieval Books

The warrior knights of the cross The Knights Templar were one of the most famous Christian military orders of the medieval period. Officially endorsed by the church in the early decades of the 12th century the express purpose of the order was to provide defence and protection to Christian pilgrims. The concept became a popular one and with patronage came wealth and power so that the order, through a substantial infrastructure of non-warrior members spread throughout Europe promoting its objectives, developing financial institutions and building fortification on a grand scale. However, the Knights Templar are especially remembered today for the prowess of their military knights. Clad in white mantles bearing the distinctive red cross the Templars both attracted and created some of the most expert and effective fighting men of their time. Naturally, the order was closely connected to the Holy Land and with the Crusades. For some two hundred years it fought the forces of Islam for dominance of Jerusalem experiencing mixed fortunes in dozens of actions and major battles. The eventual loss of the Holy Land could do no other than promote a decline in their fortunes, and indeed, the support for the Templars. Furthermore, the order's wealth and its independent structure, wielding power outside state and church, inevitably made it a target for both suspicion and dissolution. The end came in 1312-in a welter of torture, bloodshed and burnings at the stake. The legend has lived on however, and today the times of Knights Templar are to many more intriguing and evocative than ever. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple, 1119-1312

The Knights Templar were the fabled order of mystic warrior-monks supposedly disabanded more than seven centuries ago by the pope. Legends persist of their presence, and this collection of stories muse on the Knights' arrival at history's turning points to guide destiny in Good's eternal war against Evil. Original.

Crusade of Fire

You are one of the thirty Knights Templar who awoke on Friday, 13 October 1307, only to find themselves wanted criminals and branded heretics by the King of France. Abandoned by the Vatican and sent away early in the morning, you must leave Paris on a day of reckoning and try to find your way across a dark, mythic Europe to a mystical utopia where you can rebuild! Heirs to Heresy starts as a historical-fantasy roleplaying game, but is heavily influenced by Gnosticism, European Folklore, esotericism, and the myths and legends that surround the Templars. The game will ask you to craft the secrets of the Templar treasure, the enemies, and mysteries they will face, as your Knights undertake a mystical journey to the center of themselves along the road to Avallonis. The mechanics are a blend of narrative, storytelling rules, and classic adventure-gaming inspired roleplaying rules that work to create rich aspect-driven characters. As Templar Knights, your skill at arms is unquestionable, but it is the potential access to gnostic spells, unique powers, or intensely powerful faith sets you apart from your compatriots. Can you tap into your potential, guarding the mysterious Templar treasure on this last quest you will take for the order and find the answer to the burning question: are the Templars Heirs to Heresy?

Heirs to Heresy: The Fall of the Knights Templar

Proceedings of ... Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America

An order of warrior monks founded to protect pilgrims to Jerusalem, the Templars were among the wealthiest and most powerful bodies in the medieval world. Yet two centuries later, they were arrested, accused of blasphemy, heresy and orgies, and their leaders were burnt at the stake. Part guide, part history, this book investigates the Templar legends and legacy - from the mysteries of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, via nineteenth century development of the Freemasons, through to Templar appearances in Dan Brown and Indiana Jones. This book explains the whole context of Templar history, including the recent evidence discovered by the Vatican that the Templars were not guilty of heresy. It also features a guide to Templar castles and sites.

Templars

The order of the Temple was a military-religious organisation that was set up to protect pilgrims and settlers in the Holy Land. The Templars believed they were God's warriors fighting on God's behalf and developed a fearsome reputation among the neighbouring Muslim rulers. This book examines the men who joined the order and why they joined it, focusing on those who fought in the Holy Land. Based on contemporary sources it provides an effective insight into the daily lives of the warriors, from their admission ceremony to their training, organisation in the field, and how they fought in battle.

Knight Templar

Mysteries about the Knights Templar are at the heart of this exploration into the lives of extraordinary people who shaped this legendary order. Their intriguing stories shed new light on the forces that propelled Hugh de Payens and his Templars to positions of exceptional influence in the Medieval world. Templar links to Solomon's Temple have emerged as being more important than previously thought, and even added to the incredible wealth that filled their coffers. The rise of these knights also increased the power of the Vatican, whose later attacks on the Templars came back to haunt it. Walter de Clifton and other real-life Templars left testimony that revealed how they survived the arrests and executions that decimated their brotherhood in 1307. Living as outcasts, these once-powerful knights contributed to the fall of kings in Europe and the Vatican's loss of its dominant position. Their actions still influence our lives today.

The Knights Templar were portrayed by the Roman Catholic Church as evil, perverted thugs bent on sacrilegious activities and practices. Charles G. Addison presents the other side of the coin and establishes the heroic, religious and dedicated nature of the Order long before the Papal documents exonerating the Templars were acknowledged by the Vatican. In this work we see the relationship between the Templars and the King of England, the organization and structure as well as the "torture confessions" extracted from the captured Templars. This is a detailed and fascinating account of the betrayal of the Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar and the Church

Discover the leaders of the Knights Templar, the fiercest warriors of the Church during the Crusades, from beginning to end. The Knights Templar is one of history's greatest mysteries. They began as a completely transparent, public apparatus of European Christendom in the Middle Ages but eventually transformed into what many would regard as a secret society. Leading the Knights throughout these changes were their Grand Masters. These men were military as well as spiritual masters who led by their own example. Their dedication was shown by their steadfast refusal to surrender or retreat from battle, and several of them paid for that dedication with their lives or freedom. This book follows all of these colossal figures from the Templars' founder Hugues de Payens all the way to their final ill-fated Grand Master, Jacques de Molay. Here you will find innumerable accounts of epic battles as well as all the intrigue and political wrangling that came along with the Crusades. This book follows the rise and fall of the Crusader Kingdom of the High Middle Ages as seen through the eyes of the ultimate caretaker of the Holy Land-the Templar Grand Masters. During their tenure, most served with great distinction and nobility, but a few revealed motives not entirely becoming of their chivalrous order. After some 200 years of service, the Templars and their Grand Masters were abruptly disbanded in the early 1300s, widely believed to have fallen victim to the corruption and political intrigue of the day. The Templar's history spanning from the 1100s to the early 1300s, as generally told, is more than enough to make for a riveting telling of events. But some believe that's not the end of the story. Could it be that the Knights Templar have secretly continued to exist throughout history? Could freemasonry and its tradition of referring to its leadership as Grand Masters a part of this tradition? Scroll back up and order your copy today!

The best single-source reference work on the Templars

The A-Z of the Knights Templar

'Their existence was a meteor, which illuminated the age in which they flourished', Reverend G. Oliver, TEMPLE BRUER AND ITS KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, 1841The Knights Templar was a military and religious order that dominated medieval Europe for nearly two hundred years until it was suppressed in the early 1300s. The warrior monks then disappeared from history into myth, their true nature forgotten and woven into fantasy. But the traces they left behind on the land can still be seen, and, with a combination of stunning photography, historical imagery and detailed descriptions, this book provides not only a history of the Templars but also the first comprehensive survey of all the Templar sites in Britain. The author has researched and visited every site; he explains what there is to be seen, and the history and mythology behind it - as well as directions on how to get there.

In Search of the Knights Templar

The Knights Templar, established in the 12th century, were a remarkable and enigmatic order of warrior monks during the Crusades, famed for their military prowess and financial acumen. Initially founded to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, they evolved into one of the most powerful and wealthy orders in Christendom, holding vast economic influence and pioneering early forms of banking. The Templars were recognized by their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, symbolizing their dual role as devout Christians and fierce warriors. Despite their significant contributions, the order faced a dramatic downfall in the early 14th century, spurred by King Philip IV of France's envy and debts, leading to their dissolution by Pope Clement V under dubious charges of heresy and misconduct. The mysterious legacy of the Knights Templar, encompassing legends of hidden treasures and secret rituals, continues to fascinate historians and the public alike, contributing to their enduring place in popular culture and historical intrigue.