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Product Description
Much has been written about the Knights Templar in recent years. A leading specialist in the history of this legendary medieval order now writes a full account of the Knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, to give them their full title, bringing the latest findings to a general audience. Putting many of the myths finally to rest, Nicholson recounts a new history of these storm troopers of the papacy, founded during the crusades but who got so rich and influential that they challenged the power of kings.
About the Author
Helen Nicholson is Senior Lecturer in History at Cardiff University. She has published extensively on the Templars and the other Military Orders.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
With dozens of fascinating illustrations this book gives a good overview of the history of the Knights Templar from their foundation in the twelfth century through to their dissolution following a trumped up trial in France on charges of heresy and sodomy. The Templars take their name from the mosques on the Temple Mount which the Crusaders wrongly identified as being Solomon's temple. Initially their job was to protect the Holy Land from Muslims and to protect pilgrims. Their castles and activities in the Holy Land are described, along with their crusading activities in the Iberian Peninsula and Poland. Their donations and commanderies in the peaceful parts of Europe are also recorded. Since these existed mainly to funnel money east to support military efforts, the Knights Templar had a system of moving money around Europe that was used by others, and they were often entrusted with the safekeeping of valuables.
With the loss of the last Crusader castles the Knights Templar relocated to Cyprus. Unlike the Knights Hospitaller, who had captured and ruled Rhodes, the Templars needed to get on well with the King of Cyprus. Getting involved in a local coup backfired when the previous monarch returned to power at about the same time King Philip the Fair of France authorised heresy trials. Once heresy trials had started there was no way back. Accusation was regarded as proof of guilt and torture was routinely used in the belief that people were more likely to speak the truth when tortured. The Templars were then disbanded by the Pope. They had lost their power base and could not recover from this. Their possessions were merged into the Hospitallers.
The book is reasonably well written by an expert in this field, but what really brings it together is the wealth of photographs on almost every page which tie in effectively with the text. The book ends with a brief chapter pointing out the complete lack of any connection between the real Templars and modern Templar groups nor with bunkum originating from grail myths. I read the first edition which has, near the end, a photo of the Knights Templar pub under construction in London. This is immediately adjacent to the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. Since the book was written Hertford has also gained a pub named after the Templars due to alleged local links. Those with an interest in Crusading, Medieval or Military history will enjoy it.
Please note this is a review of the first edition so the final chapter, and pub pictures, may be updated!
With the loss of the last Crusader castles the Knights Templar relocated to Cyprus. Unlike the Knights Hospitaller, who had captured and ruled Rhodes, the Templars needed to get on well with the King of Cyprus. Getting involved in a local coup backfired when the previous monarch returned to power at about the same time King Philip the Fair of France authorised heresy trials. Once heresy trials had started there was no way back. Accusation was regarded as proof of guilt and torture was routinely used in the belief that people were more likely to speak the truth when tortured. The Templars were then disbanded by the Pope. They had lost their power base and could not recover from this. Their possessions were merged into the Hospitallers.
The book is reasonably well written by an expert in this field, but what really brings it together is the wealth of photographs on almost every page which tie in effectively with the text. The book ends with a brief chapter pointing out the complete lack of any connection between the real Templars and modern Templar groups nor with bunkum originating from grail myths. I read the first edition which has, near the end, a photo of the Knights Templar pub under construction in London. This is immediately adjacent to the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. Since the book was written Hertford has also gained a pub named after the Templars due to alleged local links. Those with an interest in Crusading, Medieval or Military history will enjoy it.
Please note this is a review of the first edition so the final chapter, and pub pictures, may be updated!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Excellent- One of the Three Best on the Subject
4 May 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Helen Nicholson's A Brief History of the Knights Templar, was published in April 2010. It is clearly one of the two or three essential histories of the Order for any library. Dr. Nicholson is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Wales in Cardiff. Her doctoral thesis was written on "attitudes towards the Military Orders in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries." In the preface, she thanks "Professor Malcolm Barber for advice and support over the years." Dr. Nicholson has written several books on knightly orders and the crusades.
A Brief History of the Knights Templar is an intermediate level survey on the Order. The writing is excellent and the research very solid. The author mentions that because this is not an academic text, not every sentence is footnoted. That is not a shortcoming, and makes the book easily readable. There are hundreds of footnotes included in the book for researchers.
The quality of an introduction is often a key indicator as to the quality of the book. The introduction to this book is superb. I read it three or four times before reading the book.
There are nine chapters in the book, including, "The Origins of the Order of the Temple; The Latin East: Defenders of the Holy Church; Holy War in the Iberian Peninsula and in Eastern Europe; The Organization and Government of the Order; Religious Life; Most Trustworthy Servants: In the Service of European Kings; Commercial and Economic Activities; The Trial of the Templars; Conclusion: The Templar Myth."
The book had a surprising amount of coverage on an often neglected region of the Order's activities- the Iberian Peninsula, as well as a less extensive coverage of the Order's role in Eastern Europe. Some of those donating land to the Order intended that the Order serve as defensive landowners; that is well developed in this book.
The author also provided a more complete discussion of the role of women in the Order than is found in most books. She wrote: "Any Order that refused to accept all women would lose much more than it would gain, and no religious Order would want to refuse entry to pious women who could improve the spirituality of the Order." p. 142.
The only criticisms I have of the book are areas where I wanted to know more. The book was intended to be a survey, and not a detailed study of any particular segment of the Order's history. One area that I would have enjoyed reading more about was the author's conclusion on p. 264, "In a sense, the trial of the Templars was a sideshow. It was the Templars' involvement in the political affairs of the early fourteenth century that directly brought about the destruction of the Order."
I highly recommend Dr. Nicholson's A Brief History of the Knights Templar.
A Brief History of the Knights Templar is an intermediate level survey on the Order. The writing is excellent and the research very solid. The author mentions that because this is not an academic text, not every sentence is footnoted. That is not a shortcoming, and makes the book easily readable. There are hundreds of footnotes included in the book for researchers.
The quality of an introduction is often a key indicator as to the quality of the book. The introduction to this book is superb. I read it three or four times before reading the book.
There are nine chapters in the book, including, "The Origins of the Order of the Temple; The Latin East: Defenders of the Holy Church; Holy War in the Iberian Peninsula and in Eastern Europe; The Organization and Government of the Order; Religious Life; Most Trustworthy Servants: In the Service of European Kings; Commercial and Economic Activities; The Trial of the Templars; Conclusion: The Templar Myth."
The book had a surprising amount of coverage on an often neglected region of the Order's activities- the Iberian Peninsula, as well as a less extensive coverage of the Order's role in Eastern Europe. Some of those donating land to the Order intended that the Order serve as defensive landowners; that is well developed in this book.
The author also provided a more complete discussion of the role of women in the Order than is found in most books. She wrote: "Any Order that refused to accept all women would lose much more than it would gain, and no religious Order would want to refuse entry to pious women who could improve the spirituality of the Order." p. 142.
The only criticisms I have of the book are areas where I wanted to know more. The book was intended to be a survey, and not a detailed study of any particular segment of the Order's history. One area that I would have enjoyed reading more about was the author's conclusion on p. 264, "In a sense, the trial of the Templars was a sideshow. It was the Templars' involvement in the political affairs of the early fourteenth century that directly brought about the destruction of the Order."
I highly recommend Dr. Nicholson's A Brief History of the Knights Templar.
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