Secret History of the Knights Templar A Complete Illustrated Chronicle of the Rise & Fall of One of Historys Most Secretive & Conspiratorial

This expertly written new book covers the fascinating and romantic history and mysteries surrounding the Templars. It charts their rise and influence, followed by their changing fortunes resulting in the loss of Jerusalem and the third Crusade, the fall of Acre, and the eventual tragic destruction of the order by Pope Clement V and King Philip IV of France. It explains how these brave Crusaders and Christian champions came to be perceived as greedy and hypocritical manipulators - allegedly repudiating the Cross and practicing heretical rites. We find out what happened to the celebrated martyrs who had fought bravely in their thousands in the Crusades but had lost Jerusalem and ended up with a reputation as thieves and traitors. The book looks at the speculations, myths and mysteries surrounding these legendary knights in a period that lasted only 200 years, but still holds fascination some 700 years later. It looks at controversial claims and conspiracies concerning the Knights Templar and presents informed arguments about likely truths behind them - such as whether they discovered America and whether they had guardianship or special knowledge of the Holy Grail. It also makes links with the Turin Shroud, the Ark of the Covenant, the Skull of Sidon, Freemasonry and other mysteries that have passed down the centuries.