The Templars: The Secret History Revealed

It goes without saying that much of what has been written about the Templars is pure poppy-cock. The Templars have been linked with the Grail legend and Dan Brown's book The DaVinci Code didn't help clarify the mystery surrounding the Templars, and, in fact his novel Angels and Demons probably muddied the waters even more. There are some wonderful works providing valid insight into this historically famous (some would say infamous) band of brother knights, and Barbara Frale's The Templars: The Secret History Revealed has to go to the head of a very short list.
Frale, a Vatican Secret Archives historian has access to a document trove virtually unlike any other in the world. She is a specialist on the Templars and is recognized as a specialist on the crusades and the papacy.
Frale gives us an almost intimate introduction into the beginnings of the Templars. During the Middle ages the Holy Land had become the destination of many pilgrims from Europe. Jerusalem Christians had marked virtually all of the significant sites important to the faith. However, in the seventh century Jerusalem had been overrun by Muslim raiders and would remain in Muslim hands for quite sometime. Initially, the Muslim rulers were relatively tolerant of the Christian citizens of the area as well as the pilgrims. However, in time the pilgrims became easy pickings for raiders and this, in time became the basis of the early Crusades.
After a time, Jerusalem is re-captured from the Muslims and becomes a Christian kingdom. However, Christian pilgrims are still harassed by Muslim bandits. Herein lies the beginning of the Templars. Initially established by Hugh de Payens to protect pilgrims from harassment, sanctioned by Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, the Templars would eventually become a military arm of the Pope, and responsible only to the pope. The order was exempt from taxes, and were not beholding to any secular authority. In many ways, the Templars became a multinational corporation and terribly wealthy in the process. Frale is a master of her topic. Her love of her specialty is clearly obvious from the first page. Best of all, Barbara Frale has discovered new evidence in the case of the Templars; The Chinon Parchment, missing almost since it was written has now seen the light of day thanks to her hard work.
The Templars: The Secret History Revealed is not a long book. At a mere 232 pages (and that includes the Bibliographic Note section and the Index) The Templars will not take a great deal of time to read. However, don't let that mislead you. This is a scholarly work. As Umberto Eco states in the foreword, "There are numerous books on the Templars. The only problem is that in 90 percent of the cases they are pure fantasy. No other subject has ever inspired more hacks from more countries throughout time than the Templars." He goes on " Barbara Frale's stunning discovery of the long-lost Chinon Parchment in the Vatican Secret Archives allows us to see in a new light the church's role in the process against the Templars."
If I had to mention a weakness in The Templars it would have to be the complete lack of maps. Certainly, any work of history that is important is deserving of illustrations that relate to the topography of the area being studied. This is still a five star read, however. As I read the book, I kept a good atlas at my side.
The Templars: The Secret History Revealed is a must read for anyone with a more than passing interest in this historical era.
I highly recommend.

This book was disappointing. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. With this subtitle: "The Secret History Revealed," you thought it was going to more squarely address the whole spate of Templar myths that have cropped up in the wake of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and the literary abortions of Dan Brown and his ilk. Thing is, aside from some oblique references by Eco in the forward (another reason I bought it), and parts of the last chapter, it was just a beefed-up Wikipediaesque recap of Templar history. Again, not bad, but not what I was expecting. Also, for the woman who discovered the Chinon parchment, you'd expect her to mention it more than just the few references in the last chapter. Eh. Enlightening, however, was her analysis of the controversial initiation ceremonies, which was actually quite sparkling. Also, it'd be nice to have a chronology, or a list of Grand Masters, or the like. One bright spot was the extensive bibliography that was almost a bibliographic essay, though it was lean on English-language works. Could of been brilliant, instead it serves an accessible primer, good, but not great.

I consider this book totally unreliable in historical fact, because the author is writing from the established Roman Catholic viewpoint, and not from a historical critical angle. I look forward to reading the more recent book on the subject by Michael Haag.

What a great book. Nice to read the REAL history from a REAL historian. If you are looking for cheesy fiction that is found in most Templar books then this book will probably not be for you. Its an honest historical account that is extremely well researched. For those of us who like history rooted in fact rather than fantasy this book does not disappoint.

Before you run off to Rennes-le-Chateau in search of ancient Templar myths you might want to pick up a copy of Dr. Barbara Frale's THE TEMPLARS-THE SECRET HISTORY REVEALED.
Frale, a staff historian at the Vatican Secret Archives offers up a better fact-based take on the Spartan-like Knights Templar than many of the books on the subject today.
Her discovery of The Chinon Parchment shines new light into the realm of these Holy Warriors, their secret initiations, their hard fought battles, and the political chicanery that deftly demonstrates that not all of their life and death struggles came in defense of the Holy Land or against their Muslim opponents.
This well researched and impressive work details the nearly 200 years and eight Crusades of the Templar's existence from their founder Hugh de Payens in 1120 to the execution of their last Grand Master Jacques de Molay in 1314 at the bloodied hands of France's Phillip the (not always) Fair.
The book is for the serious student or reader that wants to bring the Order of Knights Templar out of the realm of myth and lore and back into a more human focus and reality. Frale's book will often remind you too that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction with a learned nod regarding the bizarre Cadaver Synod and how one King sought to resurrect it.
A brilliant historical book that reads like a good novel!

For those searching for Dan Brownesque coverage of secret societies and cryptic codes and far-out heresies- this is not that kind of book.

As the author claims that her facts were taken from the Vatican secret archives which means she must have had to translate it from Latin- so it must have been a boring task. Its also a boring read- maning its no airport thriller. It's devoid of the other titillating dirt and trash (Hieros Gamos orgiastics, witchcraft, devil worship, cliffhangers) and all the juicy medieval tabloid fare. What it is is the closest approximation of what they must have really been at that time for the truth is never really as dramatic as Hollywood makes it to be.

Poor fellas these templars. Hunted and killed because of some financial scandal. Makes one wish that the financial monsters of today can be hunted down with equal bloodthirst so the cinema of tommorrow can make up legends about them.

If you want it as plain and closest to the truth without the muddlings of legend, then this is your book.

This really is a terrific book. It's not some Google-researched summary, but a short, readable history written by a lucid Vatican historian. It presents the facts about the Templars and does it in an elegant and enjoyable way. No hesitation to give it five stars!
Here's someone else's review of the book:[...]

When I did not receive the book in a month, I checked with the vendor tracing file, it was out of stock and they said they refunded my money to my credit card. They did not bother to notify me, so I had become a bit annoyed.

good imformation but some parts are kind of lacking in order of writing events

I haven't had a time to read this yet. I have a tenancy to have a stack of books to get through. It does look good and I'm anxious to get to it. It shipped quickly and was packaged well.