The New Knighthood : A History of the Order of the Temple (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In about 1340 Ludolph of Sudheim, a German priest on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, came upon two elderly men on the shores of..." (more)
Key Phrases: della cancelleria angioina, ooo besants, penance system, Grand Master, Holy Land, William of Tyre (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Malcom Barber has written what should become the standard history of the Templars from their foundation in 1120 to their suppression as an order in 1312". American Historical Review

"The New Knighthood is a welcome contribution to the scholarly literature on the Temple; and will long remain an essential work for anyone interested in the order." William G. Zajac, The Catholic Historical Review

Product Description

The Order of the Temple, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims around Jerusalem, developed into one of the most influential corporations in the medieval world. It has retained its hold on the modern imagination, thanks to the dramatic events of the Templars' trial and abolition two hundred years later, and has been invoked in historical mysteries from masonic conspiracy to the survival of the Turin shroud. Malcolm Barber's lucid narrative separates myth from history in this full and detailed account of the Order, from its origins, flourishing and suppression to the Templars' historical afterlife.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 465 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 29, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521558727
• ISBN-13: 978-0521558723
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,494 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive Templar book, August 27, 2003

By	Roger FitzAlan "Aranarth" (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews

I have not yet read the new Templar history by Helen Nicholson, but until I do this book stands as the best one ever written about the Knights Templar. I have written quite a bit about them myself (they were the topic of my honors thesis at Cornell University) and so have read about every relevant source on them.
"The New Knighthood" is clear, well-written, and very well-researched, covering the inception of the Order in 1119 to its suppression in 1307. Barber sticks to the best historical sources and covers the topic from head to toe, a much needed historical overhaul for the Templars, in my opinion, because their name has become so ridiculously intertwined with myths and legends of all sorts that the actual history of the Order is often completely obscured. This is sad given their enormous importance in the Holy Land during the crusader period and the innumerable legitimate questions we might investigate concerning them.
A warning to would-be delvers into supernatural research: There is a chapter that covers the "mysterious" rumors surrounding the Order in this book, but it is based in sources accepted by the scholarly world as legitimate, i.e., you won't find much here to support theories of secret treasure, devil-worship, the guardianship of the holy grail, etc. Don't scoff at that: scholars have painstakingly researched the origins of all the sources that come to light. They of all people should know what is close to fact and what is not, certainly more than many of these low-rent, legend-peddling hucksters that have written about the Templars over the past thirty years. The interest of the scholar and professor is to inform you, the interest of many of these other writers is to cash in on curiosity about "secret societies" and make a quick buck at your expense. When looking for a book on the Templars, pay attention to the pedigree of the author-- what do they do/ What's their education?
If you're really interested in the history of the Order, this book is one of the very, very few worth buying.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive history of the Templars, March 10, 1998

By	Chris Johnson (Webster Groves, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

This books chronicles the history of the Poor Knights of Christ of the Temple of Solomon from their founding to their supression and down to the present day. Along with Templar history, Professor Barber provides us with detailed looks at the daily lives and commercial activities of these legendary knights of Christ. It would be difficult to imagine a history of the Templars done any better than this. Barber's tone is judicious and restrained and, unlike far too many writers on this subject, does not get carried away. And he neatly demolishes all the survival myths and secret society stories that have grown up around the Templars. An essential book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book wonderfully researched..., February 18, 2003

By	Cornelis Oudenaarden (Indiana, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This is an amazing book concerning the Knight Templars. Malcomb Barber is certainly one of the foremost scholars on the subject and defends his ideas well in this wonderful work of research. Problematic however, with almost all English works is that it is dreadfully boring. The facts are good, the research is even better, but it is a hard read and definitly only for those truly interested in the history of the order. You must be quite the amateur or an historian in order to be able to complete reading this book. Reading this book is literally hard work, but it is very rewarding in the end. Seldom have I seen history books so well written and so well documented as this one. The author really knows what he's talking about and that is definitly the feeling you get while you're reading the book. All and all, if you want to read this book, you're going to have to sit down and take it slow, additionally you're going to have to accept that you will be putting this book down and picking it back up. After having read and understood this book, you will have a fairly good understanding and basis in Templar history.