The internationally best-selling author of Alive explores the rise, the catastrophic fall, and the far-reaching legacy of Knights of the Temple of Solomon. In 1099, the city of Jerusalem, a possession of the Islamic Caliphate for over four-hundred years, fell to an army of European knights intent on restoring the Cross to the Holy Lands. From the ranks of these holy warriors emerged an order of monks trained in both scripture and the military arts, an order that would protect and administer Christendom's prized conquest for almost a century: the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, or the Templars. In this articulate and engaging history, Piers Paul Read explores the rise, the catastrophic fall, and the far-reaching legacy of these knights who took, and briefly held, the most bitterly contested citadel in the monotheistic West. Drawing on the most recent scholarship, and writing with authority and candor, Read chronicles the history of the blood-splattered monks who still infiltrate modernity in literature, as the inspiration for secret societies, and in the backyard fantasies of any child with access to a stick and a garbage can lid. More than armed holy men, the Templars also represented the first uniformed standing army in the Western world. Sustaining their military order required vast sums of money, and, to that end, a powerful multinational corporation formed. The prosperity that European financiers enjoyed, from the efficient management of Levantine possessions and from pioneering developments in the field of international banking, would help jump-start Europe's long-slumbering Dark Age economy. In 1307, the French king, Philip IV, expropriated Templar lands, unleashing a wave of repression that would crest five years later. After Templar leaders broke down and confessed, under torture, to blasphemy, heresy, and sodomy, Pope Clement V suppressed the Order in 1312. Was it guilty as charged? And what relevance has the story to our own times? In this remarkable history, Piers Paul Read explores the Crusades and the individual biographies of the many colorful characters that fought them.

The trial of the Knights Templar is one of the most infamous in history. Accused of heresy by the king of France, the Templars were arrested and imprisoned, had their goods seized and their monasteries ransacked. Under brutal interrogation and torture, many made shocking confessions: denial of Christ, desecration of the Cross, sex acts and more. This book follows the everyday reality of the trial, from the early days of scandal and scheming in 1305, via torture, imprisonment and the dissolution of the order, to 1314, when leaders Jacques de Molay and Geoffroy de Charnay were burned at the stake. Through first-hand testimony and written records of the interrogations of 231 French Templars, this book illuminates the stories of hundreds of ordinary members, some of whom testified at the trial, as well as the many others who denied the charges or retracted their confessions. A deeply researched and immersive account that gives a striking vision of the relentless persecution, and the oft-underestimated resistance, of the once-mighty Knights Templar.

Reveals the existence of a Templar colony in the New World and how the explorer Verrazano, also a member of a secret society, attempted to reestablish contact with it • Explores Columbus’s connection to Henry Sinclair’s maps of the New World • Examines the secret alliance of Catholic Sulpicians and French Huguenots to preserve the Templar legacy • Reveals the hidden knowledge preserved in the Templar baptisteries found throughout Europe and in Newport, Rhode Island In 1524 the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano was sent by the French king Francis I on an expedition ostensibly to find a shorter route to China. However, his true mission, Steven Sora suggests, was to contact a Templar colony that might have been established in Newport, Rhode Island, by Henry Sinclair at the end of the 14th century. In his expedition log Verrazano recorded that his only stay on this journey was at Newport Harbor, the site of a tower built to the exact measurements of a Templar baptistery, a sacred sanctuary representing baptism and eternal life. This tower is a remnant of Sinclair’s voyage to America nearly a century before that of Columbus (who had access to Sinclair’s maps thanks to his wife, who was Sinclair’s great-granddaughter). While Verrazano’s mission succeeded in finding the tower, the colony itself eluded him. His backers then decided to resurrect the dream of Acadia--a place where they could aspire to higher knowledge without fear of Church or state--by creating a new Secret Society that included Huguenots and Catholic Sulpicians. This Company of the Holy Sacrament would lay the foundations for Montreal in an attempt to realize the ambitions of Sinclair and his Templar companions, as well as to stave off efforts by the Jesuits to transform Quebec into a fiefdom of the orthodox Church. Quebec’s motto, “Je me souviens” (I remember), is a reference to this secret history.

This major study includes a translation of all testimony heard during the Templar trial in Cyprus in 1310 or 1311. The trial is of immense importance to the study of the history of the order because of the large number of Templar witnesses, seventy-six, many of high rank, and the ancillary testimony of fifty-six noblemen, burghers, and members, of the regular and secular clergy. What makes the trial especially significant is that torture appears not to have been used, allowing witnesses to give their opinion of the order free of the usual constraint. A large amount of testimony omitted from the Latin edition appears here for the first time. Witnesses are cross-referenced to other Templar trials, or to Cypriot notarial documents. The work is completed by photographs, maps, an exhaustive index, lists of witnesses, and bibliography.

The most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages and their sacred treasure. For a certain period in history, the Knights Templar—the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages—secretly guarded the Shroud of Turin. Worshipped in a relentlessly secret manner, and known in its intimate nature by only a handful of the order’s officials, the swathe of fabric was kept in the central treasury of the Knights Templar, who were known for their expertise in the field of relics. The precious cloth’s history and whereabouts were known only to the highest dignitaries of the secretive order. In an era of widespread doctrinal confusion in much of the Church, the Templars considered the Shroud to be a powerful antidote against the proliferation of heresies. Easy to read and thoroughly researched, this book tracks the Templars from their inception as warrior-monks protecting religious pilgrims to the later fascination with their secret rituals and incredible wealth, which ultimately led to their dissolution and the seizing of their assets. Following the Shroud’s pathway through the Middle Ages, Vatican historian Barbara Frale has gone back in time, to the dawn of the Christian era, to provide a new perspective on the controversial relic. The author also includes several photos of the Shroud itself that reveal in startling detail a human face, mysterious writing, and marks of a crucifixion that many have claimed identify it as the true burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth.

Why do the powerful medieval Knights Templar, the famed warriors of the Crusades, still intrigue many today? A secret society long shrouded in mystery, the Templars were believed to conduct mystical rituals, to guard the Holy Grail, and to possess the priceless treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem. Did they bring their treasure to North America, as some legends say? This definitive work about the Templars and their presumed hidden knowledge addresses many such fascinating questions, with rare photos from the Rosslyn Chapel Museum (Scotland) included.

In The Templar Treasure, Dr. Stuart Peterson is Curator of Medieval history at the prestigious British Museum. Stuart and his fiancé, Savanna, take a long overdue vacation to Troyes, France, planning on immersing themselves in the region’s medieval history. Stuart’s passion for Templar history and Savanna’s love of medieval cathedrals draw them through the narrow streets of the quaint old town Tudor buildings. However, Stuart is involved in an accident that could change their lives forever. This accident will propel him on a journey through Templar history, uncovering secrets from the past. Has this accident allowed Stuart to tap into a mystical collective consciousness? Could this information help lead him to where the Templar treasures are hidden today? From the Order’s founding to the insanity that occurred on Friday, October 13, 1307, Stuart uncovers what life was really like for a Templar knight in medieval times. However, one thing is for sure. This journey will make Stuart question his definition of reality.

Dive into the captivating history of the Knights Templar, from their humble beginnings as medieval warriors to their legendary status as defenders of Christendom. Discover their rise to power during the Crusades, their innovative financial systems, and their enduring cultural impact on Western civilization. Explore the Templars' military prowess in key battles across Europe and the Holy Land, their alliances with monarchs and the Church, and their architectural contributions to Gothic cathedrals. Uncover the mysteries and legends surrounding the Templars, from their alleged secret rituals to their ultimate downfall amid accusations of heresy and betrayal. Written by [Marcus Edward Bond], this meticulously researched book delves into primary sources and modern analyses to offer a comprehensive look at one of history's most enigmatic orders. Perfect for history enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of religion, power, and medieval warfare. Key Features: Detailed exploration of Templar history from foundation to dissolution Analysis of their economic influence and financial innovations Examination of Templar symbols, rituals, and cultural impact Insights into their legacy in modern culture and historical scholarship Get your copy of "The Rise & Fall of the Knights Templar" today and uncover the secrets of this legendary order!

The trial of the Templars and the dissolution of the Order of the Temple are popular subjects for historians, but the focus of most work has been on France. In this book Alan Forey adds greatly to our understanding of the drama, not just by examining events in Spain, but also by looking at aspects which are often ignored, such as the treatment of the Templars while in custody, and their situation after the trial. Since the Aragonese Templars possessed numerous castles - a legacy of the Spanish Reconquest - they were also able to offer stouter resistance to attempts to arrest them than their colleagues elsewhere. A series of sieges was needed, lasting up to a year and a half, and the study of these provides a useful contribution to our knowledge of medieval siege warfare. Consideration is also given to the fate of Templar property, both during proceedings and later, when their lands in Valencia were used to endow the new military order of Montesa. The work is based throughout upon the examination of unused testimonies and manuscript sources, especially from the Crown Archive in Barcelona, and its sound scholarship will help dispel some of the myths which still surround the fall of the Templars.