The Templars: The History and the Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons Paperback – Illustrated, September 8, 2009

"If you'll allow me," says a conspiracy-inciting character in Umberto Eco's novel _Foucault's Pendulum_, "I'll add a fundamental axiom: The Templars have something to do with everything." They certainly have something to do with popular books and movies. It didn't start with _The Da Vinci Code_; the Templar knights play a role in _Ivanhoe_. They are the origin of the ornament so earnestly sought in _The Maltese Falcon_. They are reputed to be involved in every secret organization from the Masons to the New World Order promoted by the Skull and Bones at Yale. It's a stretch to imagine that Crusader knights, disbanded in 1312, would still be exerting their mystic influence, but plenty of people are ready to make that stretch. They aren't the sort to read _The Templars: History and Myth_ (Profile Books), a wide-ranging, fact-filled, and lively account by Michael Haag, but this history provides enough stuff to wonder at. There are wonders within the history of the Templars, to be sure, and mysteries about how they came to be destroyed and then came to be deployed as a cornerstone of the world's conspiracy theories. Haag, who has written a guide to _The Da Vinci Code_, as well as serious classical and medieval histories, handles the confusion of the time of the Crusades with particular clarity, but it has to be said he doesn't clear all the Templar mysteries away; there are too many of them, from a time that lacks documentation, and we can count on conspiracy theorists to continue to fill in the blanks.Pilgrims going to the Holy Land were more-or-less safe in the cities, but not on the roads between. When Hugh of Paynes, a knight from Champagne, proposed that the knights form a contemplative, monastic order in the region, King Baldwin II of Jerusalem proposed instead that the knights take their vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, but also retain their weapons to defend pilgrims against brigands and rapists. The first vows were taken in 1119, and headquarters were on Temple Mount in Jerusalem (hence Templars). Beside the troops needed to support knights and horses in the field, there were plenty of administrators for the enormous donations the Templars received. The Templars established financial networks everywhere there were Christians, and became hugely wealthy. With the failure of the Crusades, the Templars became a target for resentment. There were also those who resented, or coveted, their wealth. Chief among these were King Philip IV of France. With the loss of the Holy Land, Philip, who owed the order money, ordered the arrest of Templars in France. He took advantage of rumors about the scandalous secret initiation ceremony, and he tortured the knights to give false confessions and then burned them at the stake. He pressured Pope Clement V to disband the Templars, and Clement did so in 1312. The Pope, however, had cleared them of heresy charges; this was discovered when a document from the times turned up in the Vatican archives only in 2005. Clement's decision, however, did not become broadly known, and Philip continued to persecute Templars and take their possessions. The abrupt removal of a powerful military and economic force from Europe, and the lack of archival documentation about the Templars and their heresy charge, meant that they were to be a fanciful explanation for events long after they had been disbanded.Templar enthusiasts maintain a lot of contradictory claims. Templars, some say, were the first Europeans to get to America. Templars had possession of the Ark of the Covenant. They even had the Holy Grail, which only started as a legend in a book from the thirteenth century, having no previous history. They helped Robert the Bruce in his fourteenth-century battles against the British, although no one knew of this until Scottish Masons wrote up the romantic story in 1843. The Masons in general have been happy to draw on Templar lore. Thus the Templars weave themselves into many areas where conspiracy experts (or sensational novelists) see them plainly and where historians cannot find them. Haag's entertaining book is good on both the history (going back to David and Solomon) and on the many uses to which the Templar legend has been put in novels, films, and paranoia. You can even find here a website entirely devoted to Templar history, selling Templar shirts, hats, mugs, and teddy bears. And you can wonder just where those profits are going.

For those who want to know the real history of the Knights Templar, and not the silly Dan Brown-type nonsense, this book is highly recommended. It is a little repetitive at times, or at least it feels this way when read on a Kindle, but my impression is that Michael Haag is a much more professional, impartial and genuine scholar and historian than 90% of those who have written on the subject. By the end of the book one despairs of any resolution in the Middle East after millennia of conflict, by Haag does end the book with an added bonus for those who, like me, would one day want to visit the "Holy Land:" a delightful description of all the remaining castles and locations of importance, with guides for where to go when one gets there.

This book by Michael Haag is a very comprehensive balanced text on a complicated topic of the Knights Templar. The book written after the Vatican revelation of the Chinon Papers in 2007 regarding the Knights Templar trial and exoneration of 1309. Haag is a master chronicler and has obtained and presented his information that is totally understandable for the novice and expert alike. He reveals information not previously understood or questioned.This work appears to be the first writing of the Knights Templar since the discovery and Vatican release of the records of their trial and exoneration by Clement V in 1309. Although there is no reference section in the book, Haag has interwoven his sources in the text while discussing various topics regarding the Knights. Due to the secrecy regarding this very unique monastic order much of the history is unavailable. I find Haag maybe very close to the true history, culture and locations of the order. I high recommend this book to anyone interested in this topic.

The best book on Templar history I've ever read. Michael Haag is an incredible scholar. Highly recommended.

Those who are either, Knights Templars, inspiring to become one, or those who just love their history, this book is a must have! Factually and informative. Also the price is a steal!!! Awesome book!

I was in two minds after finishing this book. If you are familiar with the time periods covered you may find this book a little too simplistic. If you have a good working knowledge of, say, the medieval period this book will still be useful to you as it covers the Biblical to Byzantine period to explain how we arrived at the Crusader period. As all students of history know, all trees have roots. The authors knowledge of these earlier periods is somewhat lesser than the Medieval period and does not reflect the latest scholarship. However no less valid as what he wrote was still in vogue when I studied history at University. As we know, revisionism is rife and things may change again. For the medieval period, essentially what we are buying the book for, it is well written, even very funny in places, and insightful. I particularly liked his point on the Byzantines essentially viewing Islam as another branch of Christianity when they first came across it. Something that seems strange now with hindsight, but a point well made and something I had not considered before. This book is post Chinon document, so good for the end of the Templars. To some up, If you are new to this area or only wish to buy one Templar book, buy this one. Certainly worth five stars. If you have already read a lot of Malcolm Barber or Helen Nicholson pass this one over unless you didn't get the in depth Barber straight in your head! Still a very enjoyable read none the less.

La première grande partie du livre donne un portrait très complet de l'époque, avant et après Jésus : les Gnoses, la naissance de l'Islam, ce qui explique pourquoi Jérusalem fut disputée par les ultras des trois religions.L'arrivée sur scène des Templiers - et des autres ordres de moines-soldats - devient alors presque naturelle.La troisième partie traite des mythes autour des chevaliers du Temple et de la plupart de sociétés qui revendiquent un héritage… c'est la partie la plus faible du livre.Ouvrage recommandé

This book is really well written. It's easy to ready even for a non specialistic approacher. The only negative thing is that there aren't foot notes.

Interesting read with a lot of valuable information about the Templars and their downfall. Many historical references and templar locations