The Everyday Life Of The Templars

The lives of the medieval Templars seem hidden and mysterious. Helen Nicholson discovers their everyday world set out in the early fourteenth-century records from their trial: from buildings, food and drink, to employees, tenants and making money. Drawing this evidence together, she produces a fascinating insight into the lives of these famous men.

The definitive account of history's most infamous trial, following the doomed Order of the Knights Templar from scandal to suppression. The trial of the Knights Templar is one of the most infamous in history. Accused of heresy by the king of France, the Templars were arrested and imprisoned, had their goods seized and their monasteries ransacked. Under brutal interrogation and torture, many made shocking confessions: denial of Christ, desecration of the Cross, sex acts, and more. This narrative follows the everyday reality of the trial, from the early days of scandal and scheming in 1305, via torture, imprisonment and the dissolution of the order, to 1314, when leaders Jacques de Molay and Geoffroy de Charnay were burned at the stake. Through first-hand testimony and written records of the interrogations of 231 French Templars, this book illuminates the stories of hundreds of ordinary members, some of whom testified at the trial, as well as the many others who denied the charges or retracted their confessions. This is a deeply researched and immersive account that gives a striking vision of the relentless persecution, and the oft-underestimated resistance, of the once-mighty Knights Templar.

This book presents for the first time an English translation of henri de Curzon's 1886 edition of the French Rule, derived from the three extant medieval manuscripts. Both monastic rule and military manual, the Rule is a unique document and an important historical source. The Rule is divided into seven main sections: the Primitive Rule, Hierarchical Statutes, Penances, Conventual life, the Holding of Ordinary Chapters, Further Details on Penances, and Reception into the Order. There are details of the clothing, amour and equipment to which each brother was entitled; instructions to the brothers as to their conduct while on campaign, and information on the daily life of the members of this most influential military order, and on the monastic discipline which made it a formidable fighting force. The Rule evolved over almost one hundred and fifty years of the Order's history, and is thus a dynamic piece of work showing how the Templars adapted to political change and formulated their disciplinary code. An Introduction gives the historical background to the Rule and summarises the various sections. -- from back cover.

A new survey of major Templar landholdings offers fresh insights into key questions about their medieval history.

As the oldest of the military religious orders and the one with an unexpected and dramatic downfall, the knighthood of the Templars continues to fascinate academics and students as well as the public at large. A collection of fifteen chapters accompanied by a historical introduction, The Templars: The Rise, Fall, and Legacy of a Military Religious Order recounts and analyzes this community’s rise and establishment in both the crusader states of the eastern Mediterranean and the countries of western Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, reflects on the proceedings launched against it and its subsequent fall (1307–1314), and explores its medieval and post-medieval legacy, including an assessment of current research pertaining to the Templars and suggestions for future explorations. Showcasing a wide range of methodological approaches and primary source materials, this volume unites historical, art-historical, theological, archaeological, and historiographical perspectives, and it features the work and voices of scholars from various academic generations who reside in eight different countries (Israel, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, and the United States of America).

A captivating look into the society of the Knights Templar Brought to you by the author of Freemasons For Dummies, The Templar Code is more than an intriguing cipher or a mysterious symbol – it is the Code by which the Knights Templar lived and died, the Code that bound them together in secrecy, and the Code that inspired them to nearly superhuman feats of courage and endurance. The Templar Code for Dummies reveals the meaning behind the cryptic codes and secret rituals of the medieval brotherhood of warrior monks known as the Knights Templar. This intriguing guide will cover such topics as who the Knights Templar were, how they rose so high and fell so far, and most importantly why there is so much interest in them today. The Templar Code For Dummies will explore myths and theories of Christian history that appear in the Da Vinci Code such as the quest for the Holy Grail, the Catholic Church's relationship with women that are hotly debated now with special emphasis on the Templar connection. It also explores the surprising part the Templars have played in some of the most important historic events of these past seven centuries, including the French Revolution, the birth of groups such as the Freemasons, and even the American Civil War.

The medieval historian who revealed The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code uncloaks the Templars. In the year 1119, these noblemen found their calling as protectors of the faithful on a dangerous pilgrimage to newly conquered Jerusalem. Now, historian Sharan Newman elucidates the mysteries and misconceptions of the Templars, from their true first founding and role in the Crusades to more modern intrigues, including: - Were they devout knights or secret heretics? - Did they leave behind a fantastic treasure-hidden to this day? - How did they come to be associated with the Holy Grail? - Did they come to America before the time of Columbus? - Does the order still exist?