The pocket A - Z of the Knights Templar : a guide to their history and legacy

The order of the Knights Templar, which existed for about two centuries in the Middle Ages, was created after the First Crusade of 1096 to ensure the safety of European pilgrims to Jerusalem after its conquest. Officially endorsed by the Catholic church in 1129, the order became a favoured charity across Europe, and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, easily recognisable in their white mantle with a distinct red cross, were some of the best equipped, trained, and disciplined fighting units of the Crusades. When the Holy Land was lost and the Templars suffered crushing defeats, support for the Order faded. Rumours about the Templars' secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France, on 13 October 1307 had many of the order's members in France arrested, tortured into 'confession' and burned at the stake. In 1312, Pope Clement, under continuing pressure from Philip, forcibly disbanded the order. The sudden disappearance of a major part of the European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the name 'Templar' alive. This book brings the story into logical focus. The Knights Templar was the foremost Military Order of the Crusades. In about 1118 these warrior-monks were appointed custodians of Temple Mount, and defenders of Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. Endorsed by the Catholic Church in 1129, the Order became a favoured cause across Europe. Templar knights, distinguished by their white mantles with red crosses, constituted some of the most disciplined and efficient fighting units in successive crusades. The expanding Order acquired extensive estates in the West, and served as financiers and advisors to the great and good. In the East the Templars garrisoned cities and castles, helping to sustain the Frankish presence in the Orient for almost two centuries. Support for the Order faded after the final loss of the Holy Land. King Philip IV of France, seizing on the Templar's habitual secrecy, plotted their destruction and confiscation of their assets. Bending the Papacy to his will, he secured the arrest and trial of Templars throughout Christendom, on grounds of heresy and diabolical corruption. In France the Inquisition extracted damning confessions from the arrested brethren. In 1312, under continuing pressure from the Philip, Pope Clement V formally disbanded the Order. Two years later the last Grand Master was burned alive in Paris after renouncing his confession. The Order's suppression amid such sinister circumstances gave rise to myth and speculation which keeps the Templar name alive to this day. This highly readable and informative A-Z guide is an invaluable reference to the places, people, and themes of the Crusades, the Knights Templars and their legacy. The Knights Templar was the foremost Military Order of the Crusades. In about 1118 these warrior-monks were appointed custodians of Temple Mount, and defenders of Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. Endorsed by the Catholic Church in 1129, the Order became a favoured cause across Europe. Templar knights, distinguished by their white mantles with red crosses, constituted some of the most disciplined and efficient fighting units in successive crusades. The expanding Order acquired extensive estates in the West, and served as financers and advisors to the great and good. In the East the Templars garrisoned cities and castles, helping to sustain the Frankish presence in the Orient for almost two centuries.Support for the Order faded after the final loss of the Holy Land. King Philip IV of France, seizing on the Templar's habitual secrecy, plotted their destruction and confiscation of their assets. Bending the Papacy to his will, he secured the arrest and trial of Templars throughout Christendom, on grounds of heresy and diabolical corruption. In France the Inquisition extracted damning confessions from the arrested brethren. In 1312, under continuing pressure from the Philip, Pope Clement V formally disbanded the Order. Two years later the last Grand Master was burned alive in Paris after renouncing his confession. The Order's suppression amid such sinister circumstances gace rise to myth and speculation which keeps the Templar name alive to this day.This highly readable and informative A-Z guide is an invaluable reference to the places, people, and themes of the Crusades, the Knights Templars and their legacy. From Aaron to Zion, an invaluable reference of the people, places, and themes of the Crusades, the Knights Templar, and their legacyThe Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, popularly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple, were among the most famous of Christian military orders. The order existed for about two centuries in the Middle Ages, and was created after the First Crusade of 1096 to ensure the safety of European pilgrims to Jerusalem after its conquest. Officially endorsed by the Catholic church in 1129, the order became a favored charity across Europe, and grew rapidly. Templar knights, easily recognizable in their white mantle with a distinct red cross, were some of the best equipped, trained, and disciplined fighting units of the Crusades. Non-warrior members of the order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, innovating many financial techniques that were an early form of banking. When the Holy Land was lost and the Templars suffered crushing defeats, support for the Order faded. Rumors about the secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the order, began pressuring Pope Clement V to take action. On October 13, 1307 King Philip had many of the order's members in France arrested, tortured into "confession," and burned at the stake. In 1312, Pope Clement forcibly disbanded the order. The sudden disappearance of a major part of the European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the name "Templar" alive The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, popularly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple, were among the most famous of Christian military orders. The order, which existed for about two centuries in the Middle Ages was created after the First Crusade of 1096. 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. When the Holy Land was lost and the Templars suffered crushing defeats, support for the Order faded. Rumours about the Templars' secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the order, began pressuring Pope Clement V to take action. On Friday 13 October 1307 King Philip had many of the order's members in France arrested, tortured into 'confession' and burned at the stake. The sudden disappearance of the Order, disbanded by the Pope, gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the name 'Templar' alive 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 which have kept the name 'Templar' alive. From Aaron to Zion, The Pocket 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 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 Templars were some of the best equipped and disciplined fighting units of the Crusades, but although they disappeared after a swift and vicious campaign against them, their name lives on. This invaluable reference work provides access to the historical fact behind the legends and conspiracy theories. All of the important places, people, and themes of the Knights Templar and their legacy, from Aaron to Zion, are addressed.