The dramatic, ultimately tragic history of the Knights Templar, the largest and most powerful military order of the Crusades.

Sifting myth from history, Piers Paul Read reveals the Templars - the multinational force of warrior monks, in their white tunics with red crosses over chainmailThey were not only unique among Christian institutions but constituted the first uniformed standing army in the western world and became pioneers of international banking. Expropriated by Philip IV of France in 1307, and confessing under torture to blasphemy, heresy and sodomy, the Order was finally suppressed by Pope Clement V in 1312.

In a narrative that incorporates the story of the crusades and the many colourful characters who had links with the Templars, Piers Paul Read examines the question of their guilt and identifies their relevance to our own times.



Format Häftad Omfång 368 sidor Språk Engelska Förlag Orion Publishing Co Utgivningsdatum 2003-11-06 ISBN 9780753810873