The Templars
Dan Jones takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the medieval world, revealing how an order of warrior monks became legendary for their military prowess, immense wealth, and veil of secrecy. The book explores the Templars' participation in major crusades, their roles in some of the most significant battles, and their development into a financial powerhouse with a far-reaching network across Christendom and the Holy Land.
Jones does not merely recount their rise to prominence but gives a profound insight into their complex relationships with popes, kings, and common folk alike. As the Templars' influence continued to grow, so did the controversies and myths surrounding them, culminating in their spectacular fall from grace, marked by arrest, trial, and execution, effectively abolishing the order by the early 14th century. Yet, their legacy endures, shrouded in mystery and speculation, fuelling the imaginations of historians, novelists, and conspiracy theorists alike.
Dan Jones narrates this story in his inimitably vivid and authoritative fashion, embedding rich detail and a lively prose that brings the Middle Ages to life. With thrilling action, intrigue, and sacrifice, more than just a historical recount; it's an immersive saga that captivates from the first page to the last.
"Exhilarating, epic, sword-swinging history" – TLS
"Jones is certainly an entertainer, but also a fine historian who knows how to render serious scholarship into accessible prose" – The Times
"Another triumphant tale from a historian who writes as addictively as any page-turning novelist" – Observer
"When it comes to rip-roaring medieval narratives, Jones has few peers, and in the Templars he finds the perfect subject" – Sunday Times