jjares reviewed The Knights Templar: An Enthralling History of the Rise and Fall of the Most Influential Catholic Military Order (Church History) on + 3307 more book reviews
Before telling the two-hundred-year story of the Knights Templar, Enthralling History sets the scene. I am sorry that I can only give this book five stars because this explains the whole enchilada regarding Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church history, the history of the three popes, and the Great Schism. Believe it or not, this is the intro to the main event! Before reading this book, I did not realize how important the Crusades were to world history. We all know that the Crusades had a peripheral result; Europeans were introduced to Eastern spices and luxury goods. This would set the stage for Christopher Columbus generations later.
While Pope Urban II tried to reinforce his position as the legitimate pope, he worked to repair relations with the Eastern Church and the Byzantine Empire. Four (of the five) most important Christian holy sites were under Byzantine control. That included Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria. However, Muhammad's successors overran Byzantine positions and took away three of the essential Christian cities (all except Constantinople). The Muslims allowed Christians to continue to visit the Holy Lands until the Seljuk Turks conquered the caliphate. They were not tolerant of people of other religions.
Alexios, leader of the Byzantines asked Pope Urban for help. The Christians answered Urban's call, leading to the Crusades. Even though the first Crusade was successful, it was still not safe for pilgrims to go to the Holy Land. The new Latin kingdoms of the East needed a group of individuals who would devote their lives to the cause of defending all Christians in the Holy Land. The remaining chapters explain how the Knights Templar were formed, how they operated, and what brought their organization down.
At their inception, the Knights Templar were warrior monks. They also took on the role of chastity and poverty. The end of the Templars was shocking and traumatic.
While Pope Urban II tried to reinforce his position as the legitimate pope, he worked to repair relations with the Eastern Church and the Byzantine Empire. Four (of the five) most important Christian holy sites were under Byzantine control. That included Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria. However, Muhammad's successors overran Byzantine positions and took away three of the essential Christian cities (all except Constantinople). The Muslims allowed Christians to continue to visit the Holy Lands until the Seljuk Turks conquered the caliphate. They were not tolerant of people of other religions.
Alexios, leader of the Byzantines asked Pope Urban for help. The Christians answered Urban's call, leading to the Crusades. Even though the first Crusade was successful, it was still not safe for pilgrims to go to the Holy Land. The new Latin kingdoms of the East needed a group of individuals who would devote their lives to the cause of defending all Christians in the Holy Land. The remaining chapters explain how the Knights Templar were formed, how they operated, and what brought their organization down.
At their inception, the Knights Templar were warrior monks. They also took on the role of chastity and poverty. The end of the Templars was shocking and traumatic.
