Customer Reviews

The Templars: The History and the Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anytime I pick up a book with "The History and the Myth" of some subject in the title, there is usually more myth still being presented as history than history itself and the book turns out to be a disappointment. This book is surprisingly different and surprisingly readable.

For one thing, the book is not just about the Templars, but about the Templars and their times (from their inception Christmas Day, 1119 to November, 1312, when Pope Clementine, under pressure from the king of France, Philip IV, disbanded the group and ordered all Christian monarchs to arrest them and seize their assets). In learning about the Templars, you also learn a lot about the first Crusades, the history of Europe and the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine Empire, Saladin (conqueror of Jerusalem), and a host of other matters and people.

For another, the actual background and history of the Templars is much more interesting, and fascinating, than any fictionalized accounts in the movies, think Indiana Jones, or books, think Dan Brown novels.

There are many reasons the Templars did not fade into history after being disbanded. This book ably reviews them all, including their renown at the time as warriors (although somewhat surprising only about a tenth of its members were actually frontline fighters) and code of conduct, their wealth as an Order, and their construction of great castles and cathedrals.

Overall, the book is a very worthy, and up to date, history on this fascinating group.

Though I have only read several chapters of this book I am facinated with the historical and mythical information contained therein. The book appears to be highly researched, organized, and is easily readable. The author, Michael Haag, seems to have quite the historical and educational background for this time period making him very knowledgeable and qualified for such an undertaking. Thusfar I like this book alot. It is a good resource for those wishing to do research in this area as well as for those brothers in freemasonary desiring or seeking further enlightenment.

Michael Haag's book is an honest history that is well-researched, relying on documented history rather than myth and speculation. It does address all the hoopla surrounding the order in an excellent chapter entitled "Conspiracies" where he sheds light on many myths. The photos of famous Templar places at the end of the book are also welcome. My only criticism is the short shrift he gives to the later crusades, in particular the Richard the Lion Heart era which only warrents a page or two. Like many books on the Templars, at times the focus wanders to a discussion of the crusades in general. Although to some extent the context is necessary, more detail on the Templars proper, especially during the 1200's, would have strengthened the book.

All in all a good book, but if you are already a crusade/Templar buff there won't be too much new aside from a nice discussion on the Chinon parchmant and other recent discoveries.

This book gives a very good narration about the history of The Crusades fron the First Crusade to the 13th. The explanation about the crusades, from the causes, the principal actors etc is very comprehensive but written in an easy to understand style. On the other hand, the history about The Templars is also written comprehensively, but only fills about 30 - 40 % of the book's content, so most of this book's contents is more about the history of The Crusades.
Whatever, after reading this book, I have reached the conclusion that what has been popularly written or filmed about The Templars by authors such as Dan Brown etc, is more myth or fiction than historical facts.
At the end of the book Michael Haag also gives a list of other books, films, videos currently on the market about the Templars, so the reader can delve deeper about the subject or just find other material for comparison.
Anyway, Micael Haag's book provides good reading and is a must for history buffs.

What sets Michael Haag's book apart from the normal fare of books about the Templars is how much time he spends not talking about the Templars, but rather other groups, movements and religions that existed alongside the Templars. This is a real strength of the book, as he sets the tone for understanding how the Templars came into existence and the politics that allowed them to become the movement they were, as well as the politics and intrigue that eventually led to their demise. Haag is also very good about presenting, classical thinking about the Templars, and then alongside this he includes newer source material that the modern view. Throughout the book he intersperses short essays on related topics to give the reader a better feel for the history of the time, with topics such as: The White Slave Trade; Chivalry and Reality; Richard the Lionheart and the Templars, etc.

There are times when he presents older and outdated thinking about certain subjects, such as the history of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple during the first Jewish Revolt and presents these as fact. Only much later in the book does he add the relevant current thinking and correct himself. This is a very minor issue and the fact that he eventually includes modern sources to support these events makes up for these minor inconsistencies and in my mind validates that he has poured over many source materials to get to the true nature of the Templars.

Haag includes a discussion about conspiracy theories concerning the Templars and he is clear to separate fact, fiction and far-fetched myths. This allows one to get to know the true Templars, while also enjoying the legends and myths that have grown around them. He also includes a few chapters on other books, movies and websites that pertain to the Templars, and his personal critiques of these sources. His insight into these sources is welcome as he clearly knows how to separate the strong from the weak.

If the Templars are of interest to you (as they are to so many of us), or a student of the time I think this book will be worth your time and effort. Haag has a very easy and fluid style that allows him to present this fascinating, yet complex subject matter in a format that is accessible to almost everyone.

This is one of the very very few instances when a Journalist actually produces a solid history. From my experience, the vast majority of journalists who write histories are not very well read on the subject they wish to project their views with. Haag's book is not an Editorial. It gives a brief history of the crusades, and the events preceding them. It then goes on to popular culture, conspiracies, myths, and popular media, setting the record straight in each field. Haag makes a good transition. You won't find any postmodern drivel in his book.

I have purchased the book, "The Templars,"and want to purchase the Kindle version as well. When I downloaded a sample, there were no pictures on the sample pages; wherein, there were pictures on the same pages of the book.

Has anyone purchased a kindle "The Templars"?

Thanks.

The thing that hacked me off about this book right off the bat is that the author is trying to pass himself off as a "historian." The guy has a Masters Degree is Sociology (or was it Anthropology) and works as some kind of journalist for the BBC. Even if he does read a lot of books, that does not make him a historian.

Anyway, as for the book itself: _The Templars_ is a very general survey of the history of the three major religions in play, the Crusades, and the Order itself. It's pretty superficial, culled from various secondary sources. If you know nothing about the Crusades or the Templars, then this book is adequate as a primer. Otherwise, don't waste your money.

I will give him credit: he doesn't indulge the many popular conspiracy theories surrounding the Templars.

Not terrible but not recommended.

This is a very good book. Extremely easy to read. No stultifying phrasing, no pomposity, no Oxford accent. It is a very thorough treatment of Templars, the Crusades, the history of the Middle East, and a comparison of Judeaism, Christianity (and its sects), and Islam (and all its sects). Lots and lots of useful information. Only three things left me wanting...more maps(!) as I wore out the page with the single map of the region, more in depth review of some of the major Templar figures like Hugh Payns and Jacques de Molay, and a fuller discussion of how Templar names ended up in Freemasonry (the Demolay society, for example).

Even though the author bashes one of my favorite books of all time (The DaVinci Code), he is still a very credible author with fun facts at his fingertips. I am disappointed to learn of the mismatch in timelines with the Rosslyn Church and Templars with the Holy Grail, but I will survive.

This one is a keeper that will go on my bookshelf. I've already started reading books recommended by the author.

Great book! As other reviewers point out, the book takes in the whole era and aura of the templers. What I found very worthy is the author took the time to research the recently found Vatican documents regarding the knights.