Despite their dissolution 700 years ago, the legendary warrior monks of the Knights Templar have captivated imaginations right up through today. Templars appear in novels like Walter Scott's
Ivanhoe and Dan Brown's
The Da Vinci Code, video games like
Assassin's Creed, movies like Ridley Scott's
Kingdom of Heaven, and most recently, the History network miniseries,
Knightfall.
Now you can discover the truth of this mythic brotherhood of medieval knights in The Templar Code For Dummies. You'll find the full story of the rise and fall of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, from their humble start on the road to Jerusalem guarding pilgrims, to their meteoric climb as the most powerful military and political force in the Holy Land and Europe, their role as the first international bankers, and their subsequent plummet from grace and influence to total destruction--all in just the two hundred short years of the 12th and 13th centuries. You'll read how they were formed, their unique mission, their special international status answerable only to the Pope, how they lived their lives, and why they eventually were destroyed by the King of France. And then, there was their vast treasure.
On the way, you'll get a crash course in the history of the Crusades and the flashpoint of Jerusalem and the Middle East that continues even today. You'll also discover the origins of the Holy Grail myth and the proliferation of sacred relics throughout the Middle Ages; the rise and suppression of Gnosticism and other heresies; the Mary Magdalene black Madonna cults; Baphomet and the accusations of witchcraft, idolatry, sodomy, and heresy against the Templars; the very real plots of King Philip IV (the Fair) and his hatchet man, Guillaume de Nogaret that unfolded against Pope Boniface VIII, successor Clement V, the Jews and the Lombards in France, and finally, the Knights Templar themselves; famous real and alleged Templar historical sites like London's Templar Church, Rennes-le-Château, what remains of Paris' Temple and execution sites, and Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel; and much, much more. There's also detailed discussion of where they may have fled in the wake of the fateful mass arrests all across France on October 13, 1307.
You'll also find the modern day connections to the Templars, along with organizations that claim descent from them. It also explores the surprising part the Templars may 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. All in one comprehensive, easy to understand guide.
Written by Christopher L. Hodapp, author of the best-selling Freemasons for Dummies, and Alice Von Kannon.
