Customer Reviews

The Knights Templar: A New History

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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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".

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.

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!

This book is strictly based on historical sources. However, the history of the templars results to be more less charming and mysterious as ever. Nicholson cancels all doubts but all beautiful elements of the texture as well. Her historical method is too rationalistic, and it doesn't give room to mystical or philosophical hypoteses. There are only some hints at baphomet and at the so-called "islamic" components of the tenets of Templars. Even though it is well documented, it represents a very harsh or arid reading.