This is an interesting study which is balanced, realistic and well researched. Is it possible to explain the Templars as great rogues, heroic yet ordinary men involved in a blame game by the King Philip 'the Fair' of France with the reluctant collusion of Pope Clement V? The Order began with a dream of Saint Bernard and ended with a mythic curse from the tortured and dying Jacques de Molay.
This book does not artificially praise the Order, due to accusations of avarice, pride and other sins of their day, yet we are made aware of their honour and of their suffering. Most interesting, the court cases are described in detail along with the privations of their incarceration. 54 were burned to death in 1310 and the two Templar leaders burned to death in 1314. All went to their deaths claiming their innocence. What was their wrongdoing? They had no money and they failed to have further successes in the Holy Land. Were they really stupid to keep the secrets they were accused of?
They were unable to take castles and land back from the 'infidel'. When battles are won 'with God on our side', loss of battles mean God is no longer endorsing the enterprise! The Templars were an obsolete force and therefore in dire danger.
The accusations lasted hundreds of years, but all heretics were accused of disturbing behaviour, and the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon were no exception. All the fears and paranoia imaginable were projected onto those of greatest weakness. Dreamers, romantics, fantasists, mystics, they brought us out of the Dark Ages. The book follows the myths of the accusations that the Templars were accused of. The connection between the Knights and Freemasonry is documented as is their myths as presented by story tellers, such as Sir Walter Scott. I enjoyed this book and I feel more informed!
Review: Wendy Stokes https:wendystokes.co.uk
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