Examines the history of Jerusalem through its various conquerors, as well as the factors that led to the calling of the First Crusade.

This chapter provides the reader with a detailed account of the Peasant's Crusade, German Crusade and the First Crusade and how the various armies battled their way east with varying results.

Examines the fractured and dysfunctional relationships of the various crusading forces that made up the First Crusade and how, despite their lack of cohesion, they were able to capture Jerusalem in the summer of 1099.

By examining contemporary accounts and primary source documents, this chapter attempts to put forth a reasonable and plausible origin for the Knights Templar, devoid of the speculative fantasy that has been presented in recent years./p>

Many books have been written over the last few decades, which make the claim that the Templars wealth and power came from some secret discovery uncovered on the Temple Mount. In this chapter the author examines this myth and puts it to rest once and for all.

Examines the relationship between the Templars and the nobly born Franks who were their patrons.

Despite the romantic notions of the Templars as warriors, a good deal of their daily routine was quite ordinary and overwhelmingly pious. In this chapter, the author takes you through the day in the life of a Templar, from sunrise to sunset and beyond.

Examines the intricate hierarchal structure of the Order and how each part work in union with the others.

Despite the many false claims made about Templar wealth over the years, the bulk of the Order's assets came from the fruits of their labours. In this chapter we examine the commercial and agricultural activities of the Order in the West.

Like other aspects of the Templar story, there is a great deal of misconception about the Templars and their involvement in money lending. In this chapter the author presents the story from primary source materials and attempts to dispel some of the myths.

In this chapter we get to see a detailed picture of the Templar as warrior; both figuratively and literally. In addition to the detailed text on how the Templars worked together in the field of battle, the reader will find a number of illustrations showing the arms and armour of the various Templar ranks not seen before as well as some detailed maps of Templar bases and battle locations in the East.

History records that the Templars did not always win every battle they entered, nor did they always act in the greater interest of Christendom. In this chapter, the author presents some of the battles where the Order's own interests were put ahead of those of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In this chapter the reader will be acquainted with Saladin, the Templar's greatest foe and a man respected by Muslim and Christian alike. The author presents his rise to power as well as his defeat at the hands of the Templars at the Battle of Montgisard.

After the loss of Jerusalem, the Templars made the port city of Acre their base of operations. But first it would have to be wrestled from Muslim hands. This chapter looks at the history of the Templars through this base of operation over the last century of its existence. Captured by Richard the Lionheart in 1191; Acre was lost exactly 100 years later to the Mamlukes in 1291.

Many books on the Templars make the claim that with the loss of Acre, the Templars purpose came to an end. In this chapter the author presents the history of the Templars on the island of Cyprus after the Fall of Acre and the tragic demise of the Order more than two decades later.

Many books on the Templars make the claim that with the loss of Acre, the Templars purpose came to an end. In this chapter the author presents the history of the Templars on the island of Cyprus after the Fall of Acre and the tragic demise of the Order more than two decades later.

In the final chapter, the author takes the story of the Templars from the death of their last grand master, Jacques de Molay, through to the many myths that evolved out of his alleged dying words and the belief that the Templars went into hiding.