The Templars

The Secret History Revealed

By: Barbara Frale

Narrated by: Kate Udall

At its height, the Order of the Knights Templar rivaled the kingdoms of Europe in military might, economic power, and political influence. For 700 years the tragic demise of this society of warrior-monks amid accusations of heresy has been plagued by controversy, in part because the transcript of their trial by the Inquisition - which held the key to the truth - had vanished.Templar historian Barbara Frale happened to be studying a document at the Vatican Secret Archives when she suddenly realized that it was none other than the long-lost transcript! It revealed that Pope Clement V had absolved the order of all charges of heresy. Using this sensational new information, Frale chronicles the Templars spectacular rise and fall against a sweeping backdrop of war, religious fervor, and the struggle for dominance, and finally lifts the centuries-old cloak of mystery surrounding one of the worlds most intriguing secret societies.

©2004, 2011 Società editrici Il Mulino, Bologna Foreword copyright 2008, 2009, 2011 by Umberto Eco/L’espresso. Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate. English-language translation copyright 2009, 2011 by Arcade Publishing, Inc. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

One thousand …. A thousand times

I found this style of pronouncing the date quite annoying. Why not twelve sixteen rather one thousand two hundred and sixteen?

Good

This is a good book that covers the overall history of the Templars. Most of the facts and coverage are well known by those who follow history and the Templars, but even so the book brings a good structure, new facts and a comprehensive storyline. A good book abou the Templars and medieval history.

Clear, well-researched overview without the speculative humbug

Based on speculation and novels much nonsense has been published on the Templars - the current book clearly stands above this. No conspiracy theories, no mystic background, but a solid explanation of the rise and fall of this order.
It is a very good read. I do hope for more historic research on this topic, as the “explaining away” of the weird initiation rite of the Templars by the author sounded a bit too easy for me. Alas, much to be learned, starting from this book!

Good read the author researched facts rather than the legend

I am eagerly waiting for more historical research on the templars as promised by the author at the end of this book.

Unique historical group

I liked the detail done about all the crusades and the results. I would have liked more detail about the daily life if a Templar. This demonstrates clearly that the creation of Israel was so wrong. That area has always been shared by Christians and Muslims and should never be under control of the Jews, but be shared by all faiths.