Customer Reviews

The Templars: The Secret History Revealed

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It goes without saying that much of what has been written about the Templars is pure poppy-cock. The Templars have been linked with the Grail legend and Dan Brown's book The DaVinci Code didn't help clarify the mystery surrounding the Templars, and, in fact his novel Angels and Demons probably muddied the waters even more. There are some wonderful works providing valid insight into this historically famous (some would say infamous) band of brother knights, and Barbara Frale's The Templars: The Secret History Revealed has to go to the head of a very short list.
Frale, a Vatican Secret Archives historian has access to a document trove virtually unlike any other in the world. She is a specialist on the Templars and is recognized as a specialist on the crusades and the papacy.
Frale gives us an almost intimate introduction into the beginnings of the Templars. During the Middle ages the Holy Land had become the destination of many pilgrims from Europe. Jerusalem Christians had marked virtually all of the significant sites important to the faith. However, in the seventh century Jerusalem had been overrun by Muslim raiders and would remain in Muslim hands for quite sometime. Initially, the Muslim rulers were relatively tolerant of the Christian citizens of the area as well as the pilgrims. However, in time the pilgrims became easy pickings for raiders and this, in time became the basis of the early Crusades.
After a time, Jerusalem is re-captured from the Muslims and becomes a Christian kingdom. However, Christian pilgrims are still harassed by Muslim bandits. Herein lies the beginning of the Templars. Initially established by Hugh de Payens to protect pilgrims from harassment, sanctioned by Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, the Templars would eventually become a military arm of the Pope, and responsible only to the pope. The order was exempt from taxes, and were not beholding to any secular authority. In many ways, the Templars became a multinational corporation and terribly wealthy in the process. Frale is a master of her topic. Her love of her specialty is clearly obvious from the first page. Best of all, Barbara Frale has discovered new evidence in the case of the Templars; The Chinon Parchment, missing almost since it was written has now seen the light of day thanks to her hard work.
The Templars: The Secret History Revealed is not a long book. At a mere 232 pages (and that includes the Bibliographic Note section and the Index) The Templars will not take a great deal of time to read. However, don't let that mislead you. This is a scholarly work. As Umberto Eco states in the foreword, "There are numerous books on the Templars. The only problem is that in 90 percent of the cases they are pure fantasy. No other subject has ever inspired more hacks from more countries throughout time than the Templars." He goes on " Barbara Frale's stunning discovery of the long-lost Chinon Parchment in the Vatican Secret Archives allows us to see in a new light the church's role in the process against the Templars."
If I had to mention a weakness in The Templars it would have to be the complete lack of maps. Certainly, any work of history that is important is deserving of illustrations that relate to the topography of the area being studied. This is still a five star read, however. As I read the book, I kept a good atlas at my side.
The Templars: The Secret History Revealed is a must read for anyone with a more than passing interest in this historical era.
I highly recommend.

If you're looking for a book that venerates the mysteries and conspiracies of the Knights Templar (unimaginable treasures found under the Temple of Solomon, their protection of the Holy Grail, etc.) this is not the book for you. This is a concise and direct history of the Order, almost a "Templars for Dummies" that outlines its formation, its role in the Crusades and defense of the Holy Land, and its muddled dissolution due to conflict between the Pope and the King of France. While it does touch on some of the stranger initiation practices, it does not perpetuate the fantastical rumors of bizarre rituals or heretical acts. It simply addresses the Order's functions, characters, and key players during its tumultuous history, which Frale does in a simplistic and well-researched way. What pleased me the most was the final statement Frale makes in her afterward, which I will let you discover for yourself.

While nothing as earth-shattering as the cover may indicate, this is nonetheless a stand-out in Templar books for one main reason: It's real history. In fact, using Vatican documents and real scholarly research, Frale clarifies the Templars and dispels myths. Perhaps she should analyze all of wild post-Templar disbandonment theories as well. See also Knights Templar: The Essential History and Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades.

Before you run off to Rennes-le-Chateau in search of ancient Templar myths you might want to pick up a copy of Dr. Barbara Frale's THE TEMPLARS-THE SECRET HISTORY REVEALED.
Frale, a staff historian at the Vatican Secret Archives offers up a better fact-based take on the Spartan-like Knights Templar than many of the books on the subject today.
Her discovery of The Chinon Parchment shines new light into the realm of these Holy Warriors, their secret initiations, their hard fought battles, and the political chicanery that deftly demonstrates that not all of their life and death struggles came in defense of the Holy Land or against their Muslim opponents.
This well researched and impressive work details the nearly 200 years and eight Crusades of the Templar's existence from their founder Hugh de Payens in 1120 to the execution of their last Grand Master Jacques de Molay in 1314 at the bloodied hands of France's Phillip the (not always) Fair.
The book is for the serious student or reader that wants to bring the Order of Knights Templar out of the realm of myth and lore and back into a more human focus and reality. Frale's book will often remind you too that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction with a learned nod regarding the bizarre Cadaver Synod and how one King sought to resurrect it.
A brilliant historical book that reads like a good novel!

I was disappointed that Frale's biggest claim to fame was the re-discovery of the Chinon Parchment from its "misplaced" status in the Vatican Secret Archives that proved Clement V pardoned the Templars, yet this book did not contain a transcript of that incredibly important document.

Despite the catchy title, Barbara Frale's book is not one of a million fictional products of human imagination surrounding Templar history. Those seeking romanticized, mysterious stories of Templar treasures and legacies should look elsewhere.

Frale is a historian, who, having spent years of study in the Vatican Archives, has uncovered a document, known as the Chignon Parchment (after the city of Chignon, where an important Papal inquiry took place and where, according to the document, Clement V pardoned the Templar Order).

It is surprising and disappointing that Frale fails to provide a copy or a transcript of the Parchment, given that its discovery is Frale's significant contribution to Templar history. Frale's book is otherwise average - neither her discourse on Templar history has depth, nor her insights (including those drawn based on the Parchment material, such as the pressure under which Clement was in protecting the church) are unique or significant.

For the serious students of Templar History I recommend two excellent books by Malcolm Barber:

-- A comprehensive history of the Order -- (The New Knighthood : A History of the Order of the Temple) and

--- A very detailed study of the trial (The Trial of the Templars)

Another serous historian of military orders (including the Templars) is Helen Nicholson (you can find some of her books on Amazon (The Knights Templar on Trial: The Trial of the Templars in the British Isles, 1308-11)

This really is a terrific book. It's not some Google-researched summary, but a short, readable history written by a lucid Vatican historian. It presents the facts about the Templars and does it in an elegant and enjoyable way. No hesitation to give it five stars!
Here's someone else's review of the book:http://www.mania.com/templars-discovery-holy-frale_article_112867.html

No one is more up to date than Barbara Frale, of course... from an "Official" and "Historical" point of view about the Templar Order. A really great reading.

For those searching for Dan Brownesque coverage of secret societies and cryptic codes and far-out heresies- this is not that kind of book.

As the author claims that her facts were taken from the Vatican secret archives which means she must have had to translate it from Latin- so it must have been a boring task. Its also a boring read- maning its no airport thriller. It's devoid of the other titillating dirt and trash (Hieros Gamos orgiastics, witchcraft, devil worship, cliffhangers) and all the juicy medieval tabloid fare. What it is is the closest approximation of what they must have really been at that time for the truth is never really as dramatic as Hollywood makes it to be.

Poor fellas these templars. Hunted and killed because of some financial scandal. Makes one wish that the financial monsters of today can be hunted down with equal bloodthirst so the cinema of tommorrow can make up legends about them.

If you want it as plain and closest to the truth without the muddlings of legend, then this is your book.

You will love this book. My husband couldn't put it down until he finished reading it....