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Portugal: A Primeira Nação Templária

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A história convencional afirma que, em 1118, nove homens formaram uma irmandade em Jerusalém chamada cavaleiros templários para dar proteção aos peregrinos que viajavam para a Terra Santa. Ao contrário, este livro demonstra que a Ordem do Templo existia uma década antes no canto oposto da Europa, no seu território mais a ocidente.

Revela que a proteção dos peregrinos em Jerusalém foi confiada a uma organização distinta e que, em conluio com os monges cistercienses e a misteriosa Ordem de Sião, os templários levaram a cabo um dos planos mais ousados e secretos da história: a criação do primeiro Estado-Nação independente da Europa, Portugal, com um dos seus como rei. Com centenas de referências novas e de fontes raras, este livro revela que foi Portugal, e não Jerusalém, a primeira fortaleza dos templários. Explica ainda a motivação dos templários para criarem um novo país longe do alcance de Roma, onde pudessem cumprir a sua mais importante missão — um segredo que os templários protegeram até à morte e que custou a vida a milhares deles.

360 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2012

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Freddy Silva

25 books99 followers

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5 stars
141 (47%)
4 stars
89 (29%)
3 stars
45 (15%)
2 stars
12 (4%)
1 star
13 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Freddy Silva.
Author 25 books99 followers
August 22, 2013
History holds many events that perhaps may be well known in some parts of the World, but not all areas of the World. The reason I loved this book was simply due to the fact that I never put this idea together. Mr. Silva has done his homework and that is evident in this fine book. If you are a lover of History, then purchase this book and become a better informed reader. (By G. S. Crumley)

Well written, well researched, entertaining and informative - ok, more than informative, it's mind-blowing. It's a dream come true for me - ever since I read Martin Page's "The First Global Village: How Portugal Changed the World," I have been deeply curious about the history of the Templars in Portugal. With great story-telling style, Freddy Silva peels back the layers of this fantastic tale, exploring one mystery after another and making connections that only seem obvious in retrospect. I'm recommending this book to everyone I know. Read it and then visit this magical yet forgotten nation on the western edge of Europe. (By AmericaninPortugal)
Profile Image for Lora Milton.
620 reviews
August 20, 2020
This is a historical record of the rise of the Knights Templar, but the author tells us in his opening notes that he writes it in the form of a novel to make it more engaging than many historical accounts tend to be, and in this he largely succeeds, though it sometimes slips into academic treatise. Even then it holds interest. It gives a detailed history of a time before we had the European countries as we know them today, when they were small duchies that would eventually form the nations of Europe.

It is well researched and provides maps of the European continent as it was in the year 1080 A.D., when the Holy Roman Empire covered much of the land. One of them is a close-up of the county of Portucale, which will become the country of Portugal as a result of the history about to be told. This history begins with a decree from Pope Urban II in late 11th century that gathers various factions of rabble together and calls them Holy Knights, then sends them off to do a land grab in the Arabic countries because Christians believe certain locations to be theirs by God's will.

There is more detail to the political situation with Turks killing pilgrims and access to sacred sites beset by Bedouin raiders as well as payments demanded since 1065. In just the first couple of chapters, the causes and reasoning behind the Crusades becomes clear and is told in a way that holds interest.

The book is professionally notated and would make a great reference source for anyone looking for information on the rise and background of the Templars or the history behind the Crusades. I personally found it fascinating and an enjoyable way to increase my knowledge of this area of history.
Profile Image for Melisende.
1,228 reviews146 followers
November 4, 2019
The premise fascinated me - greatly - the delivery did not. live up to expectations.

This is an area of history I am greatly interested in, and whilst I am prepared to give authors a bit of leeway in which to explore their theories, you need to bait the hook with something tempting otherwise it will just get passed over for the next one.

I may come back to this later ... may ...
Profile Image for Paulo Hafe.
7 reviews
June 13, 2020
Interesting concept, but the narrative style is repetitive and sometimes drifts. There is some lack of critical judgement of the sources: it seems as long as something is written, then it is true. The case of Brutus of Troy for instance: to the unsuspecting reader it may seem this is an accurate historical person. It also leads to overlapping interpretations all being taken as valid, typically for names: the author finds the same name to be originated from two, three or four different sources and still finds meaning to all of them. Also, the enthusiasm for the Templar’s knowledge seems to show the interest in painting these as the good guys
1,542 reviews22 followers
February 20, 2024
Detta är så nära alternativhistoria man kan komma utan att direkt ändra på händelser. Det är inte akademiskt för fem öre. Boken tar sig definitiva friheter med konventionell etymologi, och har en bärande tes som inte har varit de rigeur sedan 1920-talet. Däremot är det väldigt spännande och väldigt påläst i termer av symbolism.
Profile Image for Luis Interiano C..
3 reviews
April 13, 2020
Many facts, debatable conclusions, very interesting

Very interesting . Full of facts about the history of the Templars. Also some conclusions that may be debatable. Word derivations based on guesses not etymological research. But otherwise a good addition to the library of anyone interested in unwritten history, especially relating to the Templars and to the discovery of America.
156 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2021
Uma obra do historiador Freddy Silva muito completa sobre a história e as origens das ordens do Templo e Cister em Portugal, a correlação entre ambas estas ordens e a sua ligação a Jerusalém e a Portugal, o suposto refúgio secreto para o Graal (daí o nome de Portugal - Porto-to-Graal)
Profile Image for Shauna.
42 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2021
I love, love, love the history of the Knights Templar so I was excited for this book. The author doesn't do a bad job of convincing the reader of their influence on the creation of Portugal. There seems to be plenty of evidence for that.

However, the author's own lack of critical evaluation of sources leads me to question almost everything that he writes. For example, as another reviewer pointed out, asserting that Brutus of Troy is a real historical person.

I found myself googling his sources and assertions regularly to see if there was common consensus online. While I find this subject matter extremely fascinating, having to take everything said with a grain of salt is extremely exhausting when reading non-fiction. Some of the claims are definitely true but others I couldn't verify at all.

Even still, I enjoyed the book and found the subject extremely interesting. For that 3 stars.
Profile Image for João Cerqueira.
Author 14 books42 followers
January 22, 2022
Não é por acaso que nenhum historiador reconhecido pelos seus pares perdeu tempo a criticar este livro.
O rigor histórico vê-se quando escreve sobre a fundação de Braga sem mencionar que foi fundada pelos romanos no século II a.c.
O resto, apesar de conter muita informação verdadeira, são meras especulações esotéricas.
Profile Image for Paulo Lopes.
15 reviews
March 2, 2021
A primeira metade do livro foi interessante, sobretudo a parte que se refere a D. Henrique e às suas ligações e movimentos, mas depois o autor mete-se por meandros que fazem lembrar as histórias de Dan Brown.
37 reviews
April 24, 2018
First Templar Nation: How Eleven Knights Created a New Country and a Refuge for the Grail by Freddy Silva from Inner Traditions is eye opening. Freddy Silva presents this well researched and documented book, including maps and photographs, with information presented in an easily understood and engaging manner.
Presented is a true understanding of Templar history including the creation of the nation-state of Portugal, (with a Templar king). So much of what history has told regarding the Templars is wrong but Mr. Silva answers many questions and provides corrected information regarding what we know about Templars. i.e. The Templars were organize earlier than we were told, they were greater in number than is told and much much more.
This is a page-turner that will keep your mind spinning and you'll love every minute spent reading and learning. Well written and engaging from the first page.
I recommend this eye opening and fascinating book to everyone but of course those interested in the Templars and history buffs definitely shouldn't pass this book up.
Thank you Freddy Silva, Inner Traditions and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
Profile Image for Elan Garfias.
144 reviews10 followers
Read
February 6, 2024
Two main premises. One of them is actually pretty convincing. The Templars do seem to have a rather unique relationship with Portugal, appearing at conspicuous moments over quite a long time span to further the establishment of the Portuguese nation-state and amass a kingdom within a kingdom, as Silva puts it. Why exactly they did this and what they were hoping to accomplish is more up for debate. Everyone seems to use the Templars to project some sort of convoluted historical conspiracy, and while I may not buy Silva's chronology tying them to the holy grail, Da Vinci Code style, there does in fact seem to be something there. Gnosticism, the severed head of John the Baptist, out of body experiences, proto-Freemasonry...there is something there and there's a reason they were so tight-lipped about it.
Profile Image for C Blake.
23 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2018
Outstanding!

This book is priceless. Freddy Silva has done a magnificent job of pulling together a huge collection of facts and ‘coincidences’ into an amazing commentary on the quest of the Templars and their relationship to Portugal, essentially their own nation. I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve read many on this subject and none have been so well-written, touched on so many unexplored avenues of thought and reason, or been so satisfying. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Knights Templar or the possible machinations of other brotherhoods.
Profile Image for AL.
232 reviews24 followers
July 1, 2024
An interesting history of Portugal and the circumstances of its formation by the Knights Templar, whose history is also discussed in great detail. The author is a formidable public speaker and a diligent researcher finding much valuable information of ancient cultures, but this book was a slow read due to the vast amounts of events and characters that played a part in the story cycle. Overall, a worthwhile read full of great information as well as intuitive insight into mysterious happenings of the secret societies involved in this tale.
Profile Image for Antonio Coelho.
333 reviews5 followers
June 4, 2020
Neste livro são estabelecidas os fundamentos que relacionam as origens de Portugal com os templários. E não só, o papel também por eles desempenhado, já como ordem de Cristo, nos descobrimentos. Enorme surpresa para mim foi a informação acerca da intensa relação estabelecida entre portugueses e etíopes no séc. XVI. É um livro extraordinariamente interessante e com extensas notas que permitem certificar muitas das afirmações do autor.
Profile Image for Kat Starwolf.
246 reviews14 followers
May 6, 2022
Highly Recommended

In my opinion, there are only a few writers whom I would trust with anything close to the truth regarding the Knights Templar: Freddy Silva is one of them. Silva’s style is not only witty and engaging, what he’s put together regarding the Templars and what actually occurred makes more sense than just about anyone else who writes in this field. It doesn’t hurt that he was born in Portugal.

GREAT read. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Terri Dixon.
Author 10 books19 followers
August 15, 2024
I was intrigued by the information in this book. I rarely read a book about Knights Templar that goes beyond the standard material. I like to look further and Freddy Silva apparently does too. I truly enjoyed some substantially different material on the subject and it answered a lot of questions that I'd had as a Knights Templar enthusiast. Thank you for some fascinating insights and new material. It was a great read and enlightening.
Profile Image for Analuabc.
263 reviews
April 30, 2019
Pode ser dividido em 2 partes. Numa primeira parte fala da formação de Portugal com pequenas histórias interessantes que normalmente não se falam. Depois a segunda parte, os últimos capítulos, já fala mais da história dos templários, do seu fim e dos dias actuais e das suas obras em Portugal e noutros sítios.
Usar capítulos curtos ajuda muito na dinâmica do livro.
1 review
March 11, 2020
Who Knew!!!

I have been reading books on the Knight's Templar for decades. Most , if not all books, on Templar history only mentions Portugal as a side bar. They concentrate Templar history in France, Scotland , and England and Portigal is just a small blip on the radar screen. So this well documented and researched book fascinated me. Loved it from cover to cover
Profile Image for Brenda Asterino.
25 reviews4 followers
Read
September 6, 2021
If you're a Templar Addict who KNOWS that history doesn't have it exactly right..... well, this is the book for you. If you are into Arthurian legends and the desire for a culture that is people centered.... This is the book for you. If you love people's goals to make life better.... You'll love this book.
447 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2024
A rica e complexa história portuguesa é desconstruída numa linguagem simples e esclarecedora, enviando-nos para o mundo dos templários e o surgimento do estado-nação mais antigo da europa - Portugal.
Livro baseado numa investigação com mais de uma década feita pelo autor.
Que pena não existirem mais escritores/investigadores da nossa rica história.
Excelente livro, onde poderá aprender muito.
Profile Image for João Ferreira.
18 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2021
Inesperadamente bem escrito, este livro foi uma agradável surpresa. Repleto de factos precisos, dá uma boa réplica de que a nossa nação é, efetivamente, ainda mais rica em termos históricos. Recomendo a todos os que tiverem abertura para absorverem conhecimento.
Profile Image for Andrew.
Author 11 books37 followers
September 17, 2021
Continuing the story of the Da Vinci code

Certainly the best historical story of the Templars and the blood line since the “Holy Blood and the Grail.”
Recommended to all seeking the truth about the Grail quest.
159 reviews
March 16, 2022
Templar secrets

A great read if you're interested in the history of Templars and what they accomplished.
Lots of details about their fascinating organization and it's foundations, kept me reading, left me wanting to know more!
Freddy Silva reveals so much information!
Profile Image for Sandrus.
118 reviews
June 19, 2018
Very good and interesting book! Learned a lot about Portugal's past that is not taught in schools. Having said that I think that the author stretched things a bit regarding some more esoteric issues.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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