The Templars: The History and the Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons Rating :
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67 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
A Great History both of the Templars and their times
By Mr. Truthteller
Anytime I pick up a book with "The History and the Myth" of some subject in the title, there is usually more myth still being presented as history than history itself and the book turns out to be a disappointment. This book is surprisingly different and surprisingly readable.
For one thing, the book is not just about the Templars, but about the Templars and their times (from their inception Christmas Day, 1119 to November, 1312, when Pope Clementine, under pressure from the king of France, Philip IV, disbanded the group and ordered all Christian monarchs to arrest them and seize their assets). In learning about the Templars, you also learn a lot about the first Crusades, the history of Europe and the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine Empire, Saladin (conqueror of Jerusalem), and a host of other matters and people.
For another, the actual background and history of the Templars is much more interesting, and fascinating, than any fictionalized accounts in the movies, think Indiana Jones, or books, think Dan Brown novels.
There are many reasons the Templars did not fade into history after being disbanded. This book ably reviews them all, including their renown at the time as warriors (although somewhat surprising only about a tenth of its members were actually frontline fighters) and code of conduct, their wealth as an Order, and their construction of great castles and cathedrals.
Overall, the book is a very worthy, and up to date, history on this fascinating group.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
A total history of the crusades
By Dr. B. Wisnubroto
This book gives a very good narration about the history of The Crusades fron the First Crusade to the 13th. The explanation about the crusades, from the causes, the principal actors etc is very comprehensive but written in an easy to understand style. On the other hand, the history about The Templars is also written comprehensively, but only fills about 30 - 40 % of the book's content, so most of this book's contents is more about the history of The Crusades.
Whatever, after reading this book, I have reached the conclusion that what has been popularly written or filmed about The Templars by authors such as Dan Brown etc, is more myth or fiction than historical facts.
At the end of the book Michael Haag also gives a list of other books, films, videos currently on the market about the Templars, so the reader can delve deeper about the subject or just find other material for comparison.
Anyway, Micael Haag's book provides good reading and is a must for history buffs.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful.Good and honest
By H. Payens
Michael Haag's book is an honest history that is well-researched, relying on documented history rather than myth and speculation. It does address all the hoopla surrounding the order in an excellent chapter entitled "Conspiracies" where he sheds light on many myths. The photos of famous Templar places at the end of the book are also welcome. My only criticism is the short shrift he gives to the later crusades, in particular the Richard the Lion Heart era which only warrents a page or two. Like many books on the Templars, at times the focus wanders to a discussion of the crusades in general. Although to some extent the context is necessary, more detail on the Templars proper, especially during the 1200's, would have strengthened the book.
All in all a good book, but if you are already a crusade/Templar buff there won't be too much new aside from a nice discussion on the Chinon parchmant and other recent discoveries.
Product Description
Arguably one of the most provocative, puzzling, and misunderstood organizations of medieval times, the legendary Knights Templar have always been shrouded in a veil of mystery, while inspiring popular culture from Indiana Jones to Dan Brown. In The Templars, author Michael Haag offers a definitive history of these loyal Christian soldiers of the Crusades—sworn to defend the Holy Land and Jerusalem, but ultimately damned and destroyed by the Pope and his church. A bestseller in the United Kingdom—the first history of the enigmatic warriors to include findings from the Chinon Parchment, the long-lost Vatican document absolving the Knights of heresy—The Templars by Michael Haag is fascinating reading.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #51764 in Books
- Published on: 2009-09-08
- Released on: 2009-09-08
- Original language:English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 1.10" h x6.00" w x8.10" l,.81 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 384 pages
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