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The Templars: The Secret History Revealed
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 InquisitionÑwhich held the key to the truthÑhad 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 TemplarsÕ 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.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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673 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Frale
39 books48 followersBarbara Frale è una storica italiana, nota per gli studi sui Cavalieri templari e sulla Sindone di Torino.
Nel 2001 pubblica per l'editore scientifico Viella di Roma una parte dei risultati della tesi di dottorato, svolta sui documenti del processo ai Templari (L'ultima battaglia dei Templari. Dal codice ombra d'obbedienza militare alla costruzione del processo per eresia): la sua tesi è che, nell'atto di accusa lanciato dal re di Francia Filippo IV il Bello che portò al processo a seguito del quale l'ordine fu sciolto, vi fosse una serie di fatti reali opportunamente stravolti dalla pubblicistica regia per costruire l'accusa di eresia, l'unico tipo di reato per i quali l'ordine non godesse della piena immunità. La colpa dei Templari, secondo l'autrice, non era l'eresia ma un rituale segreto d'ingresso come prova d'obbedienza militare che conteneva atti di vilipendio della religione.
Nel 2001 pubblica per l'editore scientifico Viella di Roma una parte dei risultati della tesi di dottorato, svolta sui documenti del processo ai Templari (L'ultima battaglia dei Templari. Dal codice ombra d'obbedienza militare alla costruzione del processo per eresia): la sua tesi è che, nell'atto di accusa lanciato dal re di Francia Filippo IV il Bello che portò al processo a seguito del quale l'ordine fu sciolto, vi fosse una serie di fatti reali opportunamente stravolti dalla pubblicistica regia per costruire l'accusa di eresia, l'unico tipo di reato per i quali l'ordine non godesse della piena immunità. La colpa dei Templari, secondo l'autrice, non era l'eresia ma un rituale segreto d'ingresso come prova d'obbedienza militare che conteneva atti di vilipendio della religione.
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July 22, 2022
"La rabia y el dolor me llenaron de tal modo el corazón que poco faltó para que me quitara la vida
o abandonara la cruz que abracé
en honor de Aquel al que en la Cruz pusieron;
porque ni la cruz ni la fe me ayudan ni protegen
contra los turcos malvados, ¡que Dios los maldiga!;
al contrario, por lo que se puede ver, parece que Dios los asiste en nuestro perjuicio."
Este libro de la italiana Barbara Frale ha sido un poco criticado en internet por algunos lectores principalmente creo yo porque en inglés su título no es "Los templarios" sino "Templarios: la historia secreta revelada". Por lo cual las quejas van por el tema que el libro no descubre casi nada nuevo. Sin embargo, ella descubrió en el año 2001 una copia de los Pergaminos de Chinon donde se encuentra la absolución de los templarios por el papa que finalmente los abandonó. Esto desde luego está comentado muy someramente y según investigué por ahí el documento fue publicado por otra editorial y la autora misma.
El libro es en ese sentido algo simple, la autora misma refiere que su intención está lejos de presentar una imagen fantástica llenas de misterio que muchos libros y novelas han presentado acerca de la orden de los templarios. También me gustó lo que dijo que si ese tipo de libros atrae más interés para la investigación igual le parecía algo bueno.
Me gustó, sin embargo, ya que yo conocía a los templarios pero no sabía tanto de su historia a profundidad. La autora te presenta los hechos claramente, te indica la importancia del origen, costumbres, Etc en el capítulo final de la orden y lo hace de manera cronológica. Sí es cierto que en muchos momentos me faltó profundizar en algunos acontecimientos. Es un libro relativamente corto.
Nos cuentan el inicio de las cruzadas, un verdadero movimiento de fe y búsqueda de la gloria, desde luego no exento de motivaciones políticas y económicas. Tras la masacre de 1009 donde autoridades sirias destruyeron Jerusalén y la saquearon. Cuando los cristianos construyeron su reino en esa estrecha franja de tierra empezaron algunos problemas. En el año 1109 una masacre de peregrinos cerca del río Jordán, llevada a cabo por musulmanes, creó el espíritu de proteger a los cristianos que llegaban en viaje a Tierra Santa. Así se creó la Orden de los templarios. Esto coincidió con el hecho que en Europa habían muchos príncipes segundones y nobles arruinados que recurrían al pillaje, robo e incluso desmantelamiento de las iglesias, con lo que fue fácil atraerse a estos nobles criados como caballeros a venir a formar parte de estas órdenes. Lo difícil desde luego era construir una unidad que solo dependiera de la Iglesia (y así evitar que se mezclen políticamente en el reino cruzado y sus peleas por las sucesiones) y que tenga un sentido religioso casi monástico, pues la mayoría de los que llegaban para ser templarios debían tener una buena preparación militar y en ese entonces solo los nobles la tenían.
Hugo Payens es considerado el fundador de la orden y su viaje desde Jerusalén a Europa en busca de partidarios es casi una leyenda. Tuvo muchos obstáculos al inicio pero recibió la ayuda del futuro San Bernardo. Alrededor de 1120 adoptaron los tres votos monásticos de obediencia, pobreza y castidad. Por su parte Bernardo estableció un código rígido de conducta que en realidad no se conoce del todo hasta ahora pero que incidía en la humildad y la falta de ostentación. Su disciplina militar es la mejor que se ha conocido desde entonces.
Con el tiempo El Temple se convirtió en un complejo y poderoso organismo supranacional: cada una de sus provincias principales se confiaba a un comandante (preceptor) y se dividía en circunscripciones menores (balivie, especie de alcaldía). Desde luego, los Templarios tuvieron que adquirir nuevas habilidades que no siempre estaban en consonancia con sus ideales sagrados iniciales. Empezaron a amasar una gran fortuna, en parte de donaciones de nobles o del mismo pueblo para que pudieran combatir, pero también producto de las rentas de sus tierras que se les daba como una orden religiosa pero que sin embargo no estaba bajo supervisión de los obispos ni autoridades eclesiasticas sino solo bajo la del Papa. Empezaron luego a prestar dinero con un interés bajo pero que igual les generaba ganancias y hasta a guardar fortunas particulares pues tenían fama de cuidar muy bien de ellas. La función diplomática tampoco les era ajena y eran uno de los mejores de su tiempo, además que el haber estado en tierra santa les daba conocimientos amplios sobre los musulmanes de los cuales sabían su lengua. Esto a la larga inevitablemente tuvo que darles algunas costumbres que se consideraban herejes y que les jugó mal en su juicio final.
La debacle de la orden sin lugar a dudas empezó con la terrible batalla de Hattin . Los templarios y los hospitalarios cayeron por centenares y Saladino los dejo a merced de la ferocidad de un grupo de fanáticos musulmanes que se había unido a su ejército. Los masacró por la gran eficiencia de los caballeros en combate mientras que fue más compasivo con los demás soldados. Luego de esto la orden se vio diezmada y el papa Inocencio III relajó las duras condiciones para estar en la orden. Esto desde luego hace pensar a muchos que tuvo un efecto negativo al final.
Luego con Felipe IV llamado el Hermoso quien gobernaba Francia las cosas alcanzan una dimensión macabra y totalmente vesánica. Pues este rey cometió una serie de actos inauditos desde cualquier punto de vista para lograr amasar un poder importante. En pugna con el papa de su tiempo, Bonifacio VIII cometió una serie de actos criminales contra la Iglesia y el papa iba a proceder a excomulgarlo, pero una expedición de soldados franceses al mando de Guillaume de Nogaret, se unió a una banda de hombres de los Colonna en las cercanías de la ciudad de Agnani y maltrató al papa que poco tiempo después murió. Cuando luego de una revuelta en París el rey se refugió en la Torre del Temple sus esfuerzos ahora fueron contra ellos y su desaparición.
Para eso contó con el apoyo de algunos templarios renegados y el pueblo de París quienes empezaron a difundir rumores y prácticas herejes en el corazón del Temple. El rey se arrogó una posición superior a la misma Iglesia y con ayuda de sus jueces y doctores en Teología llevaron a cabo una campaña para desacreditar al mismo papa de ese entonces Clemente V quien a pesar de todo puso una resistencia muy débil.
El rey capturó impunemente a los caballeros Templarios cuando no era su derecho juzgarlos pues ellos respondían solo ante el Papa y luego de masacrar a algunos mantuvo a los principales jefes (el Gran Mestre Jacques se Molay) incomunicados con el papa a pesar de sus múltiples peticiones. Es en Chinon justamente donde el papa habría perdonado los pecados de los templarios y pedido que se les respete la vida. Este documento es el recientemente descubierto del que hablé.
El dato que definitivamente me sorprendió fue que era algo demostrado que los Templarios obligaban a los postulantes a abjurar de la religión y escupir la cruz. Esto es algo que prácticamente es muy cierto luego de todas las indagaciones. Algunos dicen que lo hacían para probar al aspirante recordando lo que hacían con los capturados los musulmanes en
Jerusalén pero es algo grotesco y extraño a pesar de todo. de todas las demás imputaciones como homosexualidad, brujería, humillación y paganismo al final el Gran Maestre se desdijo pues había aceptado algunas cosas bajo tortura.
Terrible realmente cómo pasó todo aquel proceso que en realidad a todas luces tuvo la visión de un atropello del estado para apropiarse de los recursos de los templarios y al final eliminar la orden. Esto tuvo un efecto total pues los reyes de otros países ya querían también eliminar la orden y sobre todo confiscar todas esas riquezas que eran muchas. El papa al final viendo en riesgo incluso la Iglesia misma dejó de defenderlos como lo había hecho. Y el resultado fue el que todos saben la quema de los templarios en la hoguera o por otros medios y la orden totalmente eliminada.
o abandonara la cruz que abracé
en honor de Aquel al que en la Cruz pusieron;
porque ni la cruz ni la fe me ayudan ni protegen
contra los turcos malvados, ¡que Dios los maldiga!;
al contrario, por lo que se puede ver, parece que Dios los asiste en nuestro perjuicio."
Este libro de la italiana Barbara Frale ha sido un poco criticado en internet por algunos lectores principalmente creo yo porque en inglés su título no es "Los templarios" sino "Templarios: la historia secreta revelada". Por lo cual las quejas van por el tema que el libro no descubre casi nada nuevo. Sin embargo, ella descubrió en el año 2001 una copia de los Pergaminos de Chinon donde se encuentra la absolución de los templarios por el papa que finalmente los abandonó. Esto desde luego está comentado muy someramente y según investigué por ahí el documento fue publicado por otra editorial y la autora misma.
El libro es en ese sentido algo simple, la autora misma refiere que su intención está lejos de presentar una imagen fantástica llenas de misterio que muchos libros y novelas han presentado acerca de la orden de los templarios. También me gustó lo que dijo que si ese tipo de libros atrae más interés para la investigación igual le parecía algo bueno.
Me gustó, sin embargo, ya que yo conocía a los templarios pero no sabía tanto de su historia a profundidad. La autora te presenta los hechos claramente, te indica la importancia del origen, costumbres, Etc en el capítulo final de la orden y lo hace de manera cronológica. Sí es cierto que en muchos momentos me faltó profundizar en algunos acontecimientos. Es un libro relativamente corto.
Nos cuentan el inicio de las cruzadas, un verdadero movimiento de fe y búsqueda de la gloria, desde luego no exento de motivaciones políticas y económicas. Tras la masacre de 1009 donde autoridades sirias destruyeron Jerusalén y la saquearon. Cuando los cristianos construyeron su reino en esa estrecha franja de tierra empezaron algunos problemas. En el año 1109 una masacre de peregrinos cerca del río Jordán, llevada a cabo por musulmanes, creó el espíritu de proteger a los cristianos que llegaban en viaje a Tierra Santa. Así se creó la Orden de los templarios. Esto coincidió con el hecho que en Europa habían muchos príncipes segundones y nobles arruinados que recurrían al pillaje, robo e incluso desmantelamiento de las iglesias, con lo que fue fácil atraerse a estos nobles criados como caballeros a venir a formar parte de estas órdenes. Lo difícil desde luego era construir una unidad que solo dependiera de la Iglesia (y así evitar que se mezclen políticamente en el reino cruzado y sus peleas por las sucesiones) y que tenga un sentido religioso casi monástico, pues la mayoría de los que llegaban para ser templarios debían tener una buena preparación militar y en ese entonces solo los nobles la tenían.
Hugo Payens es considerado el fundador de la orden y su viaje desde Jerusalén a Europa en busca de partidarios es casi una leyenda. Tuvo muchos obstáculos al inicio pero recibió la ayuda del futuro San Bernardo. Alrededor de 1120 adoptaron los tres votos monásticos de obediencia, pobreza y castidad. Por su parte Bernardo estableció un código rígido de conducta que en realidad no se conoce del todo hasta ahora pero que incidía en la humildad y la falta de ostentación. Su disciplina militar es la mejor que se ha conocido desde entonces.
Con el tiempo El Temple se convirtió en un complejo y poderoso organismo supranacional: cada una de sus provincias principales se confiaba a un comandante (preceptor) y se dividía en circunscripciones menores (balivie, especie de alcaldía). Desde luego, los Templarios tuvieron que adquirir nuevas habilidades que no siempre estaban en consonancia con sus ideales sagrados iniciales. Empezaron a amasar una gran fortuna, en parte de donaciones de nobles o del mismo pueblo para que pudieran combatir, pero también producto de las rentas de sus tierras que se les daba como una orden religiosa pero que sin embargo no estaba bajo supervisión de los obispos ni autoridades eclesiasticas sino solo bajo la del Papa. Empezaron luego a prestar dinero con un interés bajo pero que igual les generaba ganancias y hasta a guardar fortunas particulares pues tenían fama de cuidar muy bien de ellas. La función diplomática tampoco les era ajena y eran uno de los mejores de su tiempo, además que el haber estado en tierra santa les daba conocimientos amplios sobre los musulmanes de los cuales sabían su lengua. Esto a la larga inevitablemente tuvo que darles algunas costumbres que se consideraban herejes y que les jugó mal en su juicio final.
La debacle de la orden sin lugar a dudas empezó con la terrible batalla de Hattin . Los templarios y los hospitalarios cayeron por centenares y Saladino los dejo a merced de la ferocidad de un grupo de fanáticos musulmanes que se había unido a su ejército. Los masacró por la gran eficiencia de los caballeros en combate mientras que fue más compasivo con los demás soldados. Luego de esto la orden se vio diezmada y el papa Inocencio III relajó las duras condiciones para estar en la orden. Esto desde luego hace pensar a muchos que tuvo un efecto negativo al final.
Luego con Felipe IV llamado el Hermoso quien gobernaba Francia las cosas alcanzan una dimensión macabra y totalmente vesánica. Pues este rey cometió una serie de actos inauditos desde cualquier punto de vista para lograr amasar un poder importante. En pugna con el papa de su tiempo, Bonifacio VIII cometió una serie de actos criminales contra la Iglesia y el papa iba a proceder a excomulgarlo, pero una expedición de soldados franceses al mando de Guillaume de Nogaret, se unió a una banda de hombres de los Colonna en las cercanías de la ciudad de Agnani y maltrató al papa que poco tiempo después murió. Cuando luego de una revuelta en París el rey se refugió en la Torre del Temple sus esfuerzos ahora fueron contra ellos y su desaparición.
Para eso contó con el apoyo de algunos templarios renegados y el pueblo de París quienes empezaron a difundir rumores y prácticas herejes en el corazón del Temple. El rey se arrogó una posición superior a la misma Iglesia y con ayuda de sus jueces y doctores en Teología llevaron a cabo una campaña para desacreditar al mismo papa de ese entonces Clemente V quien a pesar de todo puso una resistencia muy débil.
El rey capturó impunemente a los caballeros Templarios cuando no era su derecho juzgarlos pues ellos respondían solo ante el Papa y luego de masacrar a algunos mantuvo a los principales jefes (el Gran Mestre Jacques se Molay) incomunicados con el papa a pesar de sus múltiples peticiones. Es en Chinon justamente donde el papa habría perdonado los pecados de los templarios y pedido que se les respete la vida. Este documento es el recientemente descubierto del que hablé.
El dato que definitivamente me sorprendió fue que era algo demostrado que los Templarios obligaban a los postulantes a abjurar de la religión y escupir la cruz. Esto es algo que prácticamente es muy cierto luego de todas las indagaciones. Algunos dicen que lo hacían para probar al aspirante recordando lo que hacían con los capturados los musulmanes en
Jerusalén pero es algo grotesco y extraño a pesar de todo. de todas las demás imputaciones como homosexualidad, brujería, humillación y paganismo al final el Gran Maestre se desdijo pues había aceptado algunas cosas bajo tortura.
Terrible realmente cómo pasó todo aquel proceso que en realidad a todas luces tuvo la visión de un atropello del estado para apropiarse de los recursos de los templarios y al final eliminar la orden. Esto tuvo un efecto total pues los reyes de otros países ya querían también eliminar la orden y sobre todo confiscar todas esas riquezas que eran muchas. El papa al final viendo en riesgo incluso la Iglesia misma dejó de defenderlos como lo había hecho. Y el resultado fue el que todos saben la quema de los templarios en la hoguera o por otros medios y la orden totalmente eliminada.
August 21, 2009
The Templars The Secret History Revealed by Barbara Frale
In recent years the mystique surrounding the templars has become popular thanks to author Dan Brown. The Templars is not another fictitious book. Frale is well educated in templar, papacy and crusade history. She works in the Vatican archives. Frale was able to use old and forgotten documents to put together this insightful book.
She explains how and why the templars were formed, to whom they answered, how long they supposedly lasted, their secret rituals, and how they finally came to an end.
The book read like a text book. The information was good and considering this was non fiction it did get dry. I had a hard time following the people and the time. She jumped around on the timeline because her layout was more topic based. Also at times I felt like a needed a diagram to figure out where the people belonged. I am not entirely familiar with far reaching Catholic history so I spent some time confused over what seemed like quick change of papacy and other leaders.
By the time I reached around pg. 150 I was able to keep it all straight but I think that is because the book stayed to mostly one time period and there were fewer historical players.
I give it three stars for the content but I would have to reduce it for the dryness.
In recent years the mystique surrounding the templars has become popular thanks to author Dan Brown. The Templars is not another fictitious book. Frale is well educated in templar, papacy and crusade history. She works in the Vatican archives. Frale was able to use old and forgotten documents to put together this insightful book.
She explains how and why the templars were formed, to whom they answered, how long they supposedly lasted, their secret rituals, and how they finally came to an end.
The book read like a text book. The information was good and considering this was non fiction it did get dry. I had a hard time following the people and the time. She jumped around on the timeline because her layout was more topic based. Also at times I felt like a needed a diagram to figure out where the people belonged. I am not entirely familiar with far reaching Catholic history so I spent some time confused over what seemed like quick change of papacy and other leaders.
By the time I reached around pg. 150 I was able to keep it all straight but I think that is because the book stayed to mostly one time period and there were fewer historical players.
I give it three stars for the content but I would have to reduce it for the dryness.
March 25, 2021
Concise and informative. Historian Barbara Frale, aided by her access to the Vatican Secret Archives, delivers a solid history of the Knights templar based solely on fact rather than the flights of fancy so often indulged in by writers of fiction. (I'm looking at you, Dan Brown... and about a gazillion others.) The subject is certainly interesting enough without embellishments and conspiracy theories.
April 10, 2025
My brother once told me that the Templars were the inspiration - or at least part of the inspiration - for the Jedi in Star Wars. If that’s true, then I think those films could have been a lot weirder than they were 😁😂
August 27, 2014
Fascinating look at the Templars without all the BS. Information is gathered from the Vatican Secret Library, where secret in this case means private. Frame is an Italian paleographer at the Vatican Secret Archives.
Since this history is totally from documented sources it includes none of the speculations so often heaped onto the Templars. The book gives a detailed history of the order and as is necessary a history of the Crusades as it affected them. It really is quite an amazing story regarding how the order came about, how its ideals were formed, and the calibre of men it attracted. Politics always surrounded them with the special protection of the papacy and then later the jealously they incurred where royalty sought their distruction. The later political situation and the failure of the Crusades lead to their downfall. The story how this came about is very interesting. The rumors that surround them made them the Opus Dei of their day, and the trial and investigative documents revealed some surprising information.
Since this history is totally from documented sources it includes none of the speculations so often heaped onto the Templars. The book gives a detailed history of the order and as is necessary a history of the Crusades as it affected them. It really is quite an amazing story regarding how the order came about, how its ideals were formed, and the calibre of men it attracted. Politics always surrounded them with the special protection of the papacy and then later the jealously they incurred where royalty sought their distruction. The later political situation and the failure of the Crusades lead to their downfall. The story how this came about is very interesting. The rumors that surround them made them the Opus Dei of their day, and the trial and investigative documents revealed some surprising information.
May 25, 2010
If you’re looking for a book that venerates the mysteries and conspiracies of the Knights Templar (unimaginable treasures found under the Temple of Solomon, their protection of the Holy Grail, etc.) this is not the book for you. This is a concise and direct history of the Order, almost a “Templars for Dummies” that outlines its formation, its role in the Crusades and defense of the Holy Land, and its muddled dissolution due to conflict between the Pope and the King of France. While it does touch on some of the stranger initiation practices, it does not perpetuate the fantastical rumors of bizarre rituals or heretical acts. It simply addresses the Order’s functions, characters, and key players during its tumultuous history, which Frale does in a simplistic and well-researched way. What pleased me the most was the final statement Frale makes in her afterward, which I will let you discover for yourself.
February 2, 2020
Knjiga koja obradjuje temu Templara samo kroz historijske cinjenice i zapise, i ne moze biti toliko zanimljiva, posto se danas ona pretezno prezentuje kroz razne mitove, tajne i fikciju. Al je eto bilo interesantno vidjet kako je to u stvari tacno bilo, njihov nastanak, djelovanje i smrt. Mozda se je to moglo i malo bolje napisati jer mislim da se vise okolisalo oko teme, nego sto je ona direktno obradjena. Imao sam problem da mi je knjiga postala malo dosadna i nisam onda uspjevao pohvatati sve sto se desavalo.
May 13, 2025
An overarching history of the Temple, just what I was looking for.
January 20, 2021
Not my favorite telling of the history of the Temple Knights, and presented a fairly superficial history of the organization.
October 5, 2024
Este livro de Barbara Frale é um bom ponto de partida para quem tem interesse no tema dos Templários. Não é muito extenso e oferece uma boa visão da história da Ordem do Templo, disponibilizando no final recomendações bibliográficas para especializações do tema. Parece-me que a única falha é o facto de se focar apenas na Síria-Palestina e na França, deixando de parte outras regiões de atuação dos Templários, como a Península Ibérica.
O primeiro capítulo ("Jerusalém, o Santo Sepulcro e o Templo") oferece-nos uma boa contextualização histórica da formação da Ordem do Templo e o porquê da importância de Jerusalém na formação da ordem e na Cristandade medieval.
Segue-se o segundo capítulo, intitulado de "Uma Ordem de Santos Guerreiros" onde a autora aborda a institucionalização da ordem, processo iniciado por Hugo de Payns e que contou com o apoio de Bernardo de Claraval, através da análise do quadro político-religioso (sobretudo o desenrolar político no Papado), do cenário da guerra na Terra Santa e da dificuldade de aceitação do conceito de monges-guerreiros pela sociedade da Cristandade.
No terceiro capítulo ficamos a saber "O Código de Honra dos Templários": o modo cavalheiresco, a humildade e a excelência, o equilíbrio entre o corpo e a alma, a lealdade à unidade do grupo, a solidariedade, as normas e a hierarquia, o lado financeiro e a política e a diplomacia. A autora aqui recorre a várias fontes primárias, o que permite compreender melhor este "código".
No capítulo seguinte ("Ao Serviço da Terra Santa"), Barbara Frale faz-nos um resumo de todo o quadro político-militar do território cristão na Síria-Palestina (o Outremer) e das cruzadas encabeçadas pela Cristandade contra o Islão, embora este resumo se torne muito confuso e poderia analisar mais a ação dos Templários nestas campanhas militares. Ainda assim, acaba o capítulo abordando a recolha de recursos financeiros para a Terra Santa e as críticas aos Templários pelo mundo ocidental, que viriam a consolidar-se com o fim do Outremer.
O quinto capítulo ("Entre a Espada e a Parede") dá-nos uma boa visão sobre todo o contexto que viria a levar ao fim da Ordem do Templo. Desde o pontificado de Bonifácio VIII, que as relações entre o Templo e a Coroa francesa entram em rutura, sobretudo pelos desejos de Filipe IV, O Belo, de aumentar o seu poder e a sua riqueza. Simultaneamente, a nível interno, a ordem está dividida em dois partidos: Oriente, liderada por Jacques de Molay e que pretende restabelecer a Ordem ao seu código oririnal, e Ocidente, partidários da Coroa francesa, com uma visão quase exclusivamente financeira. Durante o pontificado de Clemente V, o processo iria acelerar-se e, eventualmente, pôr fim aos Templários.
Por fim, no último capítulo ("Sob Processo"), ficamos a saber todo o processo que é encabeçado por Filipe IV, O Belo, contra o Templo e que o papa Clemente V procurou resolver. No entanto, o esquema do rei francês já não poderia ser impedido pelo papa, que veria a sua queria ordem "pessoal" terminar de vez e com uma imagem herética.
O primeiro capítulo ("Jerusalém, o Santo Sepulcro e o Templo") oferece-nos uma boa contextualização histórica da formação da Ordem do Templo e o porquê da importância de Jerusalém na formação da ordem e na Cristandade medieval.
Segue-se o segundo capítulo, intitulado de "Uma Ordem de Santos Guerreiros" onde a autora aborda a institucionalização da ordem, processo iniciado por Hugo de Payns e que contou com o apoio de Bernardo de Claraval, através da análise do quadro político-religioso (sobretudo o desenrolar político no Papado), do cenário da guerra na Terra Santa e da dificuldade de aceitação do conceito de monges-guerreiros pela sociedade da Cristandade.
No terceiro capítulo ficamos a saber "O Código de Honra dos Templários": o modo cavalheiresco, a humildade e a excelência, o equilíbrio entre o corpo e a alma, a lealdade à unidade do grupo, a solidariedade, as normas e a hierarquia, o lado financeiro e a política e a diplomacia. A autora aqui recorre a várias fontes primárias, o que permite compreender melhor este "código".
No capítulo seguinte ("Ao Serviço da Terra Santa"), Barbara Frale faz-nos um resumo de todo o quadro político-militar do território cristão na Síria-Palestina (o Outremer) e das cruzadas encabeçadas pela Cristandade contra o Islão, embora este resumo se torne muito confuso e poderia analisar mais a ação dos Templários nestas campanhas militares. Ainda assim, acaba o capítulo abordando a recolha de recursos financeiros para a Terra Santa e as críticas aos Templários pelo mundo ocidental, que viriam a consolidar-se com o fim do Outremer.
O quinto capítulo ("Entre a Espada e a Parede") dá-nos uma boa visão sobre todo o contexto que viria a levar ao fim da Ordem do Templo. Desde o pontificado de Bonifácio VIII, que as relações entre o Templo e a Coroa francesa entram em rutura, sobretudo pelos desejos de Filipe IV, O Belo, de aumentar o seu poder e a sua riqueza. Simultaneamente, a nível interno, a ordem está dividida em dois partidos: Oriente, liderada por Jacques de Molay e que pretende restabelecer a Ordem ao seu código oririnal, e Ocidente, partidários da Coroa francesa, com uma visão quase exclusivamente financeira. Durante o pontificado de Clemente V, o processo iria acelerar-se e, eventualmente, pôr fim aos Templários.
Por fim, no último capítulo ("Sob Processo"), ficamos a saber todo o processo que é encabeçado por Filipe IV, O Belo, contra o Templo e que o papa Clemente V procurou resolver. No entanto, o esquema do rei francês já não poderia ser impedido pelo papa, que veria a sua queria ordem "pessoal" terminar de vez e com uma imagem herética.
May 17, 2025
Un saggio storico avvincente e appassionante, molto ben documentato, in cui Barbara Frale ricostruisce la storia del Tempio con una importantissima novità: la scoperta, dopo settecento anni, da parte della studiosa, del documento che attesta l'assoluzione papale dei cavalieri del Tempio dall'accusa di eresia, l'inchiesta di Chinon della quale, fino a quel momento se ne era venuta a conoscenza solamente attraverso fonti indirette. Nonostante ciò, gli eventi storici non impedirono, come noto, la fine del Tempio con la morte del Gran Maestro Jacques de Molay. Ma almeno la scoperta di questo documento restituisce ai cavalieri templari la dignità che era stata loro sottratta.
February 26, 2024
Enjoyable read despite the lack of Templar secrets...
April 30, 2024
كتاب مختصر عن تاريخ فرسان الهيكل أو فرسان الداوية كما يسميهم العرب. المؤلفة عملت في الأرشيف الفاتيكاني ومن اطلاعها على الوثائق الخاصة هناك، كتبت هذا الكتاب المختصر عن عن فرسان الهيكل بعيدا عن الخيال ونظريات المؤامرة. المؤلفة من خلال هذه الوثائق تناقش الشائعات التي انتشرت عن فرسان الهيكل كالشذوذ والكفر بالمسيحية والتي كانت سبب بإنهاء التنظيم وإحراق زعيمهم عام 1308 ميلادي. برأي المؤلفة أن هذه الاتهامات لم تكن كلها اتهامات باطلة، ولكن جزء من الحقيقة موجود وحصل. فالشذوذ والكفر لم تحصل بمعناها المعروف ولكن جزء من طقوس التنشئة للجنود الجدد كان يحتوي على بعض الحركات كالتعري والركوع والبصق على الصليب، والتي استغلت لتشويه سمعتهم وحل التنظيم من قبل ملك فرنسا في ذلك الوقت.
الكتاب مختصر وجاف ولكنه بعيد عن تهويلات المؤلفين الأخرين عن سطوة وانتشار فرسان الهيكل حتى بعد نهايتهم، فالمؤلفة تقول أن أي تاريخ لفرسان الهيكل لما بعد سنة 1312 (السنة التي حل فيها التنظيم من قبل بابا الفاتيكان) لا يعتبر تاريخ ولكن رةاية خيالية لا واقع لها.
الكتاب مختصر وجاف ولكنه بعيد عن تهويلات المؤلفين الأخرين عن سطوة وانتشار فرسان الهيكل حتى بعد نهايتهم، فالمؤلفة تقول أن أي تاريخ لفرسان الهيكل لما بعد سنة 1312 (السنة التي حل فيها التنظيم من قبل بابا الفاتيكان) لا يعتبر تاريخ ولكن رةاية خيالية لا واقع لها.
February 13, 2021
This is really more of history, not a 'secret' history, of the Templars. I think the only thing 'secret' about it, is that some of the documents cited are kept in the Vatican secret archives, which are called 'secret' in the sense that no one but designated individuals can read the stuff there.
I love that Frale placed the Templars in the social and political context of the time. She dives into how the trouble relationship between France and the Papacy turned the Templars into a chess piece, to the knights' detriment. There is nothing 'scandalous' about what the Templars did, except in confessions extracted under torture that were later redacted by the confessors. And also there is no continuation, or 'Templar Legacy'. The Templars were created to serve the pope (says so right in their rules), and the pope had declared the knighthood dissolved, not to be resurrected without the expressed permission of the pope. Not like that will stop the conspiracy theories, but it was still a great and informative read. Especially learning about the Templar's skill at diplomacy. They were often chosen to act as negotiators on behalf of important individuals because of their reputation for obtaining mostly peaceful agreements with the Muslims in Jerusalem. When you hear about the Templars, you hear about their valor and ability as warriors, or their economic acumen, you don't hear about how they were considered THE people you wanted in charge of your negotiations, or how their achievements as diplomats might have been much greater than any sort of military victory.
I love that Frale placed the Templars in the social and political context of the time. She dives into how the trouble relationship between France and the Papacy turned the Templars into a chess piece, to the knights' detriment. There is nothing 'scandalous' about what the Templars did, except in confessions extracted under torture that were later redacted by the confessors. And also there is no continuation, or 'Templar Legacy'. The Templars were created to serve the pope (says so right in their rules), and the pope had declared the knighthood dissolved, not to be resurrected without the expressed permission of the pope. Not like that will stop the conspiracy theories, but it was still a great and informative read. Especially learning about the Templar's skill at diplomacy. They were often chosen to act as negotiators on behalf of important individuals because of their reputation for obtaining mostly peaceful agreements with the Muslims in Jerusalem. When you hear about the Templars, you hear about their valor and ability as warriors, or their economic acumen, you don't hear about how they were considered THE people you wanted in charge of your negotiations, or how their achievements as diplomats might have been much greater than any sort of military victory.
August 25, 2018
Ottima sintesi della nascita, vita e morte dell'affascinante Ordine dei Templari, nato inizialmente per difendere i pellegrini che si recavano a Gerusalemme dai saraceni predoni, poi mano a manp diventato vero esercito contro gli invasori arabi e poi tramutato in banca per poi decadere per intricati motivi politici reliosi ed economici, ma soprattutto per una sfortunata serie di eventi (in ultima la grande sete di potere del re di Francia che addirittura voleva diventare papa). La dottoressa Frale ha studiato per anni il processo dei Templari ed è ufficiale dell'Archivio Segreto Vaticano. Credo sia la studiosa piú competente in Italia sul tema delle Crociate e dei Templari. Attenzione alla letteratura di fantasia che, negli ultimi decenni, ha dato all'ordine del Tempio un volto esoterico esageratamente artefatto: la Frale consiglia il volume di Peter Partner "The Murdered Magicians: the Templars and Their Myth" che smaschera simili montature ricostruendone la genesi e rivelando anche gli interessi economici (onnipresenti) che a volte nascondono. Vi straconsiglio questo libro se volete approfondire la storia dei Templari come essa è stata senza false fantasie esoteriche.
September 13, 2009
3 1/2 stars. Nonfiction. Being interested in this historic religious organization but knowing little about it other than as portrayed in popular fiction, I was hoping for a lot of insight from this book. And, to an extent, I received it. Barbara Frale is a historian on staff at the Vatican Secret Archives. The history is well researched and quite interesting, although the writing can be a bit dry in places.
Because it is only about 200 pages long, there is a lot of history crammed into relatively few words. And because of my lack of background on the subject, I had trouble keeping the various popes and political leaders straight, and often had to re-read paragraphs or sentences. I would have like more detail about the popes, the crusades, the political climate, and that would have made the book much longer, perhaps too long for the casual reader and not detailed enough for the serious historians of the period, but I wanted to know more. All in all, a very worthwhile read.
Because it is only about 200 pages long, there is a lot of history crammed into relatively few words. And because of my lack of background on the subject, I had trouble keeping the various popes and political leaders straight, and often had to re-read paragraphs or sentences. I would have like more detail about the popes, the crusades, the political climate, and that would have made the book much longer, perhaps too long for the casual reader and not detailed enough for the serious historians of the period, but I wanted to know more. All in all, a very worthwhile read.
February 6, 2013
Lots of good reviews on this one. My take - dry and no reveal of what the author based most of this book on, the Chinon Parchment. The Chinon Parchment is her greatest claim to fame so lets see a scan, pixalated photo, heck, even a MS-Paint of the document. Also, the author claimed to have found the burial certificate of "Jesus of Nazareth" on the Shroud of Turin, and that the date was in accord with the Gospel records.
This book reads like a Doctoral Thesis and maybe that's the intended audience. I found it to be one long apology for Clement V.
This book reads like a Doctoral Thesis and maybe that's the intended audience. I found it to be one long apology for Clement V.
February 10, 2022
This book, in my opinion, was an excellent historical on the Catholic Church, the Templars, the crusades and the politics of the times. I've been a seeker of what was the reality or the truth of the Templar Knights and I feel this book was well written and brought to light much of what went on from the creation of this holy warrior group to it's so called end, when Clement V officially dissolved the Order of the Knights Templar.
April 8, 2009
When I received this book, I was surprised how short it was. In fact, I read it in just one evening. But don't let its length confound you! It is packed with reliable and historical information on the Templars. Not an ounce of fiction from this gifted historian - so we are left with "only the facts, mam." A+
October 5, 2011
The meatiest part of the book is the final chapter which reveals the latest info come to light about the end of the Templar order thanks to Philip the Fourth of France and the revelation of the Chignon Parchment. Well-written account in clear language by a foremost academic of the Vatican archives about the Templars.
August 3, 2009
It reads alot like a textbook but it is good. The author focuses more on the politics of king philip and the popes fighting over disbanding the templars or keeping them around rather than what the templars accomplished or found in the holy land.
March 28, 2014
It's great to read about the discovery of the Chinon Parchment, but the majority of this book is taken up by a history of the Templars which is over-simplified and full of assumptions.
January 26, 2016
this book was a bit of a disappointment but it seemed to cover the inquisition well. Overall I was disappointed in this book but perhaps an excellent timeline on the Templars.
November 25, 2018
It’s hard for me to decide what I think about this book. For virtually my entire life, I’ve heard and read rumors, stories, and myths about the mysterious Knights Templar, and most people know about the Holy Grail and have heard stories that the organization continues to secretly exist to the present day. When I got this book, I wasn’t exactly looking for or expecting to find these stories were justified. However, while I admittedly did enjoy learning about how the Templars were founded, and for what reasons, and the qualities one had to have and the sacrifices one had to make in order to become one, this book then quickly turned into basically a dry textbook of history, places, several events, politics, culminating in a very disappointing (for me) end to what had been an admirable organization, complete with confessions tortured out of the Templars who had been arrested due to political BS between the King of France and the Pope. It was further disappointing to learn that at least some of the confessions were true, as in the Templars’ secret initiation rites, which I cannot believe were original, had degraded into something undeserving of the name and purpose of the organization, and personal requirements and standards had been lowered to recruit new members, thus making for a lack of morals in some that would have probably gotten an original Templar killed by his fellows. It was also disappointing to learn of such a once-splendid organization’s demise, and as the primary author was granted access to the “secret” Vatican files, it’s highly likely that the reports of its termination as an organization are and were indeed true, thus destroying my youthful fantasies of a super-secret organization existing over the centuries to the present, exercising power in all sorts of areas. Like I originally stated, I knew that was essentially a myth, but it was still disappointing to read the historical truth.
This is a well-researched, and professionally written history of a fascinating organization that was quite powerful for several hundred years and which still interests numerous people til this day. The writing gets fairly dry at times, even boring, but there’s enough good details and history in it to make it worth reading. I’d give this book a solid four stars and state that it’s recommended.
This is a well-researched, and professionally written history of a fascinating organization that was quite powerful for several hundred years and which still interests numerous people til this day. The writing gets fairly dry at times, even boring, but there’s enough good details and history in it to make it worth reading. I’d give this book a solid four stars and state that it’s recommended.
November 28, 2025
Barbara Frale's The Templars: The Secret History Revealed offers a well-researched, accessible introduction to one of history’s most mysterious and mythologised military orders. Drawing heavily on Vatican archives and inquisitorial records, Frale makes a compelling case that the fall of the Templars was less about theology or corruption and more a result of political expedience, royal debt, and institutional jealousy.
The strength of this book lies in its clear narrative and humanisation of the Templar figures. Frale effectively captures the power dynamics between the papacy, the French monarchy, and the military orders. She presents the confessions not as simple condemnations, but as documents shaped under duress, fear, and coercion. The inclusion of specific trials and testimony brings a tangible weight to the events.
However, despite the title, this is not an in-depth exploration of the internal workings of the Templar Order. It is more Templar-adjacent than immersive. Readers looking for detailed accounts of their rule structure, daily life, battlefield strategies, or initiation rites may come away feeling underfed. The book instead operates at a higher level, offering a political and ecclesiastical overview of their rise and suppression, rather than a granular study of the knights themselves.
In short, this is a solid historical account, but it stops short of being definitive. It opens many doors but does not always walk through them. A good starting point for anyone interested in the fate of the Templars and their place in the power struggles of medieval Europe.
The strength of this book lies in its clear narrative and humanisation of the Templar figures. Frale effectively captures the power dynamics between the papacy, the French monarchy, and the military orders. She presents the confessions not as simple condemnations, but as documents shaped under duress, fear, and coercion. The inclusion of specific trials and testimony brings a tangible weight to the events.
However, despite the title, this is not an in-depth exploration of the internal workings of the Templar Order. It is more Templar-adjacent than immersive. Readers looking for detailed accounts of their rule structure, daily life, battlefield strategies, or initiation rites may come away feeling underfed. The book instead operates at a higher level, offering a political and ecclesiastical overview of their rise and suppression, rather than a granular study of the knights themselves.
In short, this is a solid historical account, but it stops short of being definitive. It opens many doors but does not always walk through them. A good starting point for anyone interested in the fate of the Templars and their place in the power struggles of medieval Europe.
December 10, 2017
Frale is a scholar with access to Vatican records. This appears to be a straight forward history of the intriguing order of warrior monks that so captivate the popular imagination, ala Dan Brown. She discusses the Medieval conditions that gave rise to the order, how in addition to the Papal esire to regain Jerusalem from the Moslems, Europe had a terrific problem with the violence of armed knigts and what a good idea it was to bundle them off to Asia. The Templars were initially well trained and respected warriors, but over time their fortunes waned as they lost battles, particularly a drubbing by Saladin, and also lost respect. The Templars were only beholding to the Pope and they had dispensation from taxes that allowed them to amass landed estates and great wealth. As the fourteenth century dawned the King of France, Philip the Fair, cast covetous eyes on the Templar wealth and was engaged in a continuing battle with the pope over political power, He accused the Knights of heresy, sodomy, and whatever. Some of the charges had merit but a lot was lies and false witness plus a lot of torture as he had the Knigts arrested, jailed, tortured, and many, including Grad master Jacque de Molay, burned at the stake. This book has no secret mysteries but is a pretty direct story of historical events. Frale seems mostly objective, but also appears to be sympathetic to the aims of the Pope and the Order. I found it a quick and generally interesting read.
October 21, 2017
Though not a bad read, I did find it somewhat disappointing. The author did not so much as reveal secrets as she withheld speculating. Umberto Eco's foreword calls all other Templar "histories" rubbish, mere fictional inventions of their authors. But there wasn't much here I hadn't read elsewhere.
The author does provide a good overall history of the order. She affirms the initiation practice of having to deny Christ and spit on the cross, but then explains that this would be seen as errant behavior, not heresy. Denial of Christ is serious business, whether taught or not.
I suppose I was hoping that the court documents that she discovered would shed light on the missing Templar wealth and perhaps even what may have happened to the brothers who were not arrested (which must have numbered in the hundreds). But she doesn't. She focuses on the political machinations and essential states that the order died with de Molay.
The author does provide a good overall history of the order. She affirms the initiation practice of having to deny Christ and spit on the cross, but then explains that this would be seen as errant behavior, not heresy. Denial of Christ is serious business, whether taught or not.
I suppose I was hoping that the court documents that she discovered would shed light on the missing Templar wealth and perhaps even what may have happened to the brothers who were not arrested (which must have numbered in the hundreds). But she doesn't. She focuses on the political machinations and essential states that the order died with de Molay.
September 26, 2023
This book is a well-researched and factual account of the Knight's Templar, from it inception to the dissolution. It also present brief summaries of the various Crusades and the role of the Templars in the them.
The are two interesting take aways from the book: First, that despite the writings of conspiracy theorists and Dan Brown, the organization was terminated in the 1300's. The top leaders were killed, and the rest of the members were dispersed, and the financial assets moved to the Hoteliers. Second, that one part of the organization was focused on military issues, and the other major part became essentially bankers. They served their own organization, but were so trustworthy that royalty and governments relied on them.
This was not a particularly exciting book to read, but it was very informative and well written.
The are two interesting take aways from the book: First, that despite the writings of conspiracy theorists and Dan Brown, the organization was terminated in the 1300's. The top leaders were killed, and the rest of the members were dispersed, and the financial assets moved to the Hoteliers. Second, that one part of the organization was focused on military issues, and the other major part became essentially bankers. They served their own organization, but were so trustworthy that royalty and governments relied on them.
This was not a particularly exciting book to read, but it was very informative and well written.
November 24, 2024
Los Templarios es un interesante estudio introductorio sobre la Orden de los Pobres Compañeros de Cristo y el Templo de Salomón que reúne muy sintéticamente los dos siglos de historia de la orden. Es un libro que, en poco espacio, es bastante exhaustivo explicando los orígenes y el contexto de los Caballeros Templarios, así como varias referencias a las cruzadas y los diferentes reinos cristianos en Tierra Santa, así como sus contrapartes islámicas.
Es un libro interesante, especialmente para cualquier persona que no tenga mucha idea sobre el tema. Considero que su principal valor es la cantidad de fuentes que utiliza y que le permiten al lector encontrar muchísimo más material para profundizar en estos temas. Un lector más avezado en historia medieval seguramente encuentre esta obra poco interesante y repetitiva.
Es un libro interesante, especialmente para cualquier persona que no tenga mucha idea sobre el tema. Considero que su principal valor es la cantidad de fuentes que utiliza y que le permiten al lector encontrar muchísimo más material para profundizar en estos temas. Un lector más avezado en historia medieval seguramente encuentre esta obra poco interesante y repetitiva.
January 30, 2023
This a very disorganized, hard to follow account of the Templars and the history surrounding them. The author tried to cover far too much history in far too little pages and the result was just clumps of dates and names. Additionally, when describing part or their initiation ceremony in which the prospective members are literally sexually assaulted by their superiors, the author maintains victim blaming language, only analyzes the "homosexual" aspect, denies their victimhood by putting quotes around the word "victim" and literally attributes what happened to them as their sins that they have to confess. This is blatant sexual assault and exploitation of young and naive boys and the author said NOTHING. I didn't read the last 30 pages, I couldn't get past this.
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