The Knights Templar [Paperback]

Helen Nicholson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2004

A leading specialist in the history of this legendary medieval order now writes a full account of the Knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, to give them their full title, bringing the latest findings to a general audience.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Helen Nicholson is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Cardiff. She is a specialist in the Medieval military orders (her publications include, Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights, Images of the Military Orders. 1128-1291)Cassell, 1993) and a member of the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East, the Arthurian Society and the Ecclesiastical History Society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing (October 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750938390
• ISBN-13: 978-0750938396
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,744,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Study, May 13, 2005

By 

Historian (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Knights Templar: A New History (Hardcover)

Along with Malcolm Barber's classic "The New Knighthood", "The Knights Templar: A New History" is probably the best scholarly treatment of the Knights available to the general reader. She does a very admirable job of tracing the development of the Knights Templar from their founding in about 1119 to their end in 1314. Nicholson an expert on the medieval military orders, and her book is based on the best of scholarship. "DaVinci Code", "The Templar Revelations", and "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" fans will probably be disappointed. This work is based on historical facts about the Knights Templar and dispenses with the utter nonsense of linking the order to the Freemasons and other esoteric traditions. The fact is that the true history of the Knights Templar is fascinating and exciting enough without the ridiculous fiction that has so recently saturated the market. Another strength of this work is it's layout. It is a physically large book which allows for a large typeset and many pictures, timelines, and maps -- all of which are all of which are relevant and attractive.

I really don't see any glaring weaknesses in the book. As one who is interested in military history, I probably wished that Nicholson gave more detailed and specific accounts of the Templars' responsibilities and actions in such battles as Hattin, Arsuf, Al Mansurah, La Forbie, and the siege of Acre. That said, a detailed military history is not what Nicholson set out to accomplish, so such criticism is certainly not warranted.

All in all, a great study of the Knights Templar by a SCHOLAR. No "mystical" or "esoteric" hypotheses, guesses, assumptions, or lies. Certainly, it deserves to be on the shelf next to Barber's "The New Knighthood".

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Knights Templar: A New History, January 24, 2004

By 

G. Napier - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Knights Templar: A New History (Hardcover)

I would endorse this book to anyone who wishes to the facts about the Knights Templar without having to wade through a lot of foggy mysticism and conspiracy theory. It gives a much truer picture of what the Templars were, what made them tick, and what life was like for them. So I believe, anyway, having researched the Order for some years myself.

The author is a worthy historian and a leading expert in the field. It is quite right that she based her conclusion on the evidence, rather than what she thought would make a good story and wild speculation. She also covers some interesting and hiterto neglected aspects of the Order of the Temple's history, such as its presence in Eastern Europe where they encountered the invading Mongols. It is engagingly written, for the most part, not too long, and does not go into excessively great detail.

There are, additionally, many great photographs of Templar buildings from throughout Europe and the Middle East.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hammers of God, September 1, 2011

By 

C. Repicky "Marshal of the Temple" (Fortress of Jacob's Ford) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Knights Templar (Paperback)

This is a great book. I would recommend any book by this historian as worth the purchase and read. Team her works up with ones from Napier, Dafoe, Nicholle, and you have a winning set of volumes.

Wonderful!