Knights at the Bookshelf By Sir Knight Michael J. Kastle, PGC, KTCH, KCT
Helen J. Nicholson; The Knights Templar; ARC Humanities Press, Leeds, U.K.; 2021; Soft bound; 96 pages; ISBN: 978-1-64189-168-4.
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r. Nicholson was awarded her Ph.D. from the University of Leicester in 1990. She is a professor of medieval history in the History Department at Cardiff University. Dr. Nicholson has written a concise history of the Knights Templar. It is a good summary of her earlier books on the same subject and includes new information, now available. I have read several of her books and thoroughly enjoy them. Dr. Nicholson writes for the average audience and not for an especially academic audience. The book is brief, only ninety-six pages, but Dr. Nicholson’s summary covers the subject quite adequately. The Chapters are: Chapter 1, Beginnings: This chapter covers the creation of the Knights Templar with new comments about who may or may not have been involved, based on new research. Chapter 2, The Concept: This chapter discusses the concept of militant monks and the Crusade confraternities that may have influenced and preceded the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller. Chapter 3, Beliefs: This chapter briefly discusses the entrance requirements for joining, various categories of membership, their religious practices, and their places of worship. Chapter 4, Battle: This chapter discusses some major battles fought, some won some lost. What was the Templars’ part in the battle, and what was the cause of the win or the loss? Chapter 5, Impact: This chapter covers the impact the Templars had on western European society, discussing such areas as; parish work, estate management, moneylending, and royal service. Chapter 6, The End: This chapter looks at the trial of the
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may 2022
