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The Templars: The History and the Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons Paperback – September 8, 2009

by Michael Haag (Author)

124 customer reviews

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Arguably one of the most provocative, puzzling, and misunderstood organizations of medieval times, the legendary Knights Templar have always been shrouded in a veil of mystery, while inspiring popular culture from Indiana Jones to Dan Brown. In The Templars, author Michael Haag offers a definitive history of these loyal Christian soldiers of the Crusades—sworn to defend the Holy Land and Jerusalem, but ultimately damned and destroyed by the Pope and his church. A bestseller in the United Kingdom—the first history of the enigmatic warriors to include findings from the Chinon Parchment, the long-lost Vatican document absolving the Knights of heresy—The Templars by Michael Haag is fascinating reading.

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Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; First American Edition edition (September 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061775932
ISBN-13: 978-0061775932
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts > Freemasonry
- #43 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Churches & Church Leadership > Church History
- #47 in Books > History > World > Religious > Christianity

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Customer Reviews

124

4.1 out of 5 stars

5 star		47%
4 star		31%
3 star		12%
2 star		6%
1 star		4%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 122 people found the following review helpful

A Great History both of the Templars and their times

By Mr. Truthteller on January 22, 2010

Format: Paperback

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.

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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

A total history of the crusades

By Dr. B. Wisnubroto on September 27, 2010

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

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.

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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

Good and honest

By H. Payens on March 9, 2010

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

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.

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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

A Complete and Enjoyable view of the Templars

By Ronn Berrol on September 14, 2010

Format: Paperback

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.Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

I liked the first 3 quarters of the book approximately

I liked the first 3 quarters of the book approximately. But after that it gets too much into the conspiracy theories that arose after the Templars had long disappeared; in other... Read more

Published 3 days ago by J. H. Eric Cousineau

A Must Have

Excellent read for further understanding of history for our Templar Brethren who have come before us. I Am A Knight Templar!

Published 1 month ago by TGrooms

Five Stars

Thank you

Published 2 months ago by Stephen

I liked the detail information

I liked the detail information, which was presented in this book. The author has done a great work in his research. I enjoyed reading it.

Published 3 months ago by Mirhashem Ziai

4 Stars

Bought this book for my history class. Great read for those with an interest in Templar history

Published 3 months ago by TB

Nothing really new

If you do not know anything about the order and you can tolerate a slightly clumsily written book this can serve as a decent introduction

Published 3 months ago by Carl Klein

The recipient liked it a lot - He's interested in the templars

I bought this for a gift. The recipient liked it a lot - He's interested in the templars.

Published 3 months ago by Tapper

Four Stars

interesting

Published 4 months ago by Christi Lee Baker

Serious students of Templar history only

Allow me to address my dislike first. It is wordy and very comprehensive, at times I felt like I was having a tooth pulled. Read more

Published 4 months ago by J. R. Harris

Four Stars

Very well written for a historical book.

Published 4 months ago by KURT MORAUER

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