The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present

Rating:
Summary: Interesting new ideas about Knights Templar and Freemasons
Review: Well researched book. The authors are not taken in by the many foolish ideas of the degree sellers, both modern and antique. They have a refreshing and thoughtful approach to the question of the latter history (if any) of the Knights Templar. They recognize that documentation of any such history is unlikely to be found, for two reasons: the great distance in time, and the secrecy necessary fristly because of the commercial interests of the Order, then for the very survival of its members. Given that, they make a very strong case for their very interesting inductions. Their final chapter on the "Swiss Connection", an idea I had not previously seen in print, particularly appealed to me because of my own discoveries about the history of Castle Chillon, near Montreaux on Lake Geneva, before it was taken over in 1147 by the House of Savoy. The authors also make clear the connection between the Order and the Normans, descendents of the Vikings. These syntheses are perhaps the most important ideas of all those presented here. Hopefully, they will be expanded upon in future works! Thank you, brethren.