In 1119, a small band of knights seeking a purpose in the violent aftermath of the First Crusade set up a new religious order in Jerusalem, which was now in Christian hands. These were the first Knights Templar, elite warriors who swore vows of poverty and chastity and promised to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next 200 years, the Templars would become the most powerful network of the medieval world, speerheading the crusades, pionerring new forms of finance and warfare and deciding the fate of kings. Then, on October 13, 1307, hundreds of brothers were arrested, imprisoned and tortured and the order was disbanded among lurid accusations of sexual misconduct and heresy. But were they heretics or victims of a ruthlessly repressive state? Dan Jones goes back to the sources to bring their dramatic tale, so relevant to our own times, to life in a book that is at once authoritative and compulsively readable. -- Provided by publisher.

Part I. Pilgrims, c. 1102-1144 -- A golden basin filled with scorpions -- The defense of Jerusalem -- A new knighthood -- Every good gift -- Part II. Soldiers, 1144-1187 -- A tournament between Heaven and Hell -- The mill of war -- The godforsaken tower -- Power and riches -- Troubles in the two lands -- Tears of fire -- Woe to you, Jerusalem! -- Part III. Bankers, 1189-1260 -- The pursuit of fortune -- Nowhere in poverty -- Damietta! -- Animosity and hatred -- Unfurl and raise our banner! -- Part IV. Heretics, 1260-1314 -- A lump in the throat -- The city will fall -- At the Devil's prompting -- Heretical depravity -- God will avenge our death -- Epilogue: the holy grail.