The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple (Canto Classics) Reprint Edition

Over the past twenty or thirty years the Templars have become the subject of some really silly religious conspiracy theories which say more about the authors who espouse them than they actually do about the Templars themselves.Don't buy these religious conspiracy books about the Templars expecting to actually learn the history of the Order. Instead, get "The New Knighthood" and "The Trial of the Templars" by Malcolm Barber. Dr. Barber's "The New Knighthood" is perhaps THE single best history of the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon available, written by one of the Order's foremost historians (though Dr. Helen Nicholson's books are also extremely good). Particularly useful and interesting are detailed chapters chronicling the Order's founding, early years and explosive growth, and chapters on the suppression and dissolution of the Order as well as its transformation into modern fantasy through the spurious history and wild assertions of religious conspiracy theorists. The chapters on the Order's founding and early growth are especially fascinating.Barber's book is well-grounded in well-documented, scholarly fact; in those cases where the facts are unknown or open to differing interpretation, he tells you.Barber's books (and Dr. Peter Partner's "The Mudered Magicians: The Templars and their Myth") should be required reading for anyone about to write a religious conspiracy book involving the Templars.

Only started reading and can tell it's worth buying if you want to get into the history of this topic

As others have previously stated this book is written in a scholarly vein. This fact should not discourage anyone from proceeding with this well written, very informative source. I fall far short of being remotely classified as a scholastic reader, but that fact did nothing to prevent me from throughly enjoying this and also ordering his other book on the fall of the Templar’s. This is one of the most comprehensive books on the subject written by a person that’s made it his life’s work.

The Knights Templar "corporation" lasted some two centuries - from their beginnings about 1191 to their leaders arrest in France on Friday 13 October 1307. Many of us first came across the Templars in books such as "Ivanhoe" when we were young, but the reality of overseas military operations in "Outremer" (the Christian crusader states) during the 12th and 13 centuries was far more complex. Enormous expenditures of money and men were required, which in turn, necessitated a very large support organization throughout Europe for money, men, and supplies. Raising money, men, and horses was an ongoing effort. I was surprised at the cost to equip and maintain just one knight in Outremer, and the consequences to the Order of sometimes losing several hundred knights in a single battle. There was never enough knights.The author concisely and in detail describes the Templar history from records as are now available, both western and eastern, as the Templar archives in Cypress were destroyed by the Ottomans in 1571. The first five chapters discusses the origins of the order, the concept of a military monastic organization, the rise of the Templars from their simple roots, to the last years of the Order in Outremer. There are chapters on Templar life and rules, the support and supply network, and the end of the Order in the early 14th century. The last chapter discusses several legends that have grown up around the Templars. The very detail may, however, put off the reader looking for a casual history. The book needs a glossary to define medieval military and religious terms.All in all an excellent book, but one which may require more than one reading. It is recommended.

Very historical and interesting

If you are looking for an exciting read, this is not it. However, if you are looking for content and research that is backed up with documented sources, this book is worth its weight in gold. This book is already a valued addition to our research collection, and we aren't even halfway through it.

Great Book and Delivery Time will do more orders with you. super reading best i have read yet.

Excellent book. Well written , precise and meticulously researched.