Page 86 - All About History - Issue 56-17

Interview

Dan Jones VS

the Templars

The Knights Templar have been linked

to everything from the Holy Grail to
discovering America. But historian

Dan Jones is on a quest to bust the myths

surrounding these warrior monks

Interview by Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

or an organisation that shrouded itself What was it about the Knights
in mystery, the Knights Templar are Templar and its mysterious practices
surprisingly well known. Perhaps the that drew you in as a historian?
reason we still remember this order For me, it’s one of those few subjects that has
Fof medieval warrior monks – fixate instant name recognition. If you ask anyone to
on them, even – is because they wanted to keep name something from the Middle Ages there’s a
their initiation rites and other practises top secret. good chance it’s going to be the Templars. You
Originally a holy order formed in the wake of the can’t say that for many subjects, and certainly not
First Crusade, the Templars pledged to protect for many monarchs, except perhaps Richard the
pilgrims travelling the long and dangerous roads to Lionheart or Richard III. It also has pop culture
Jerusalem. However, in time this group – resonance through The Da Vinci Code, the Assassin’s
which swore oaths of chastity and poverty – Creed video games, Ivanhoe, Indiana Jones and
became one of the richest and most influential this new TV show called Knightfall [coming to the
branches of the Vatican. Both allies and enemies to History Channel soon].
many a king of the era, the Templars were an order There’s also all this mystery connecting them
that fought wars, operated banks and influenced to the Holy Grail, so there’s a rich grounding for a
more than their fair share of foreign policies for historian to peel away the myths and uncover the
over 200 years. real story that lies beneath. Of course, we know that
However, the order’s air of clandestine operation the Holy Grail didn’t exist — it’s an absurd idea — so
coupled with incredible power it wielded has there are these mysteries and legends waiting to
fuelled numerous conspiracy theories down the be siphoned away to reveal the truth about the
years, most notably the legend of the Holy Grail. Knights Templar.
In turn, the Templars have made a convenient
plot device to carry countless books, TV shows How did the Templars make the jump
and video games. Now historian Dan Jones is on a from oaths of poverty to becoming one
mission to demystify the monks, following up his of the richest military orders?
popular medieval chronicles The Plantagenets and Interestingly, the very first Templars were actually
The Hollow Crown, with new book, The Templars: very wealthy, well-connected people. Yes, the first
The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God’s Holy Templars swore oaths of chastity and poverty,
Warriors. All About History spoke with Jones to but the only people that need to swear an oath of
separate fact from fiction. poverty are those who aren’t poor to begin with.
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