Remember Processus Contra Templarios- a reproduction of Vatican documents relating to the Trial of the Templars, that I reported about way back when? Well the person who came across those documents in the Vatican's Secret Archives has written a book.From Amazon.com:
At its height, the Order of the Knights Templar rivaled the kingdoms of Europe in military might, economic power, and political influence. For 700 years the tragic demise of this society of warrior-monks amid accusations of heresy has been plagued by controversy, in part because the transcript of their trial by the InquisitionÑwhich held the key to the truthÑhad vanished.
Templar historian Barbara Frale happened to be studying a document at the Vatican Secret Archives when she suddenly realized that it was none other than the long-lost transcript! It revealed that Pope Clement V had absolved the order of all charges of heresy. Using this sensational new information, Frale chronicles the TemplarsÕ spectacular rise and fall against a sweeping backdrop of war, religious fervor, and the struggle for dominance, and finally lifts the centuries-old cloak of mystery surrounding one of the worldÕs most intriguing secret societies.
About the Author
Barbara Frale is a historian on staff at the Vatican Secret Archives. A specialist on the Templars, the Crusades, and the papacy, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Venice. She lives in Viterbo, Italy.
This looks like it may be of interest. My copy is on the way...
3 comments:
Seems like very useful book. Thanks for the info!
The Knights Templar were condemned by the church all over Europe with the exception of Portugal. King Denis of Portugal made an agreement with the Pope Clement and in 1318 changed the name of the order to the Order of Christ. The stronghold of the Templar in Portugal is the Convent of Christ in the city of Tomar, Portugal. With that change, no Templar in Portugal was condemned or prosecuted, and the order lived well and long with the protection of the Portuguese kings. The cross of Knights Templar is also alive and well to the present date.
When the organization was renamed to Order of Christ by king Denis of Portugal with the agreement of Pope Clement, the cross suffered little change. You can see it on the Portuguese Navy training barque NRP Sagres III. You can also look at my blog under the images section of Sail Boston 2009, the NRP Sagres III with the Knights Templar cross as renamed later to Order of Christ.
Today, in the 21st Century a ship travels all over the world with brave men and women, carrying with her the history, the soul, the spirit and the descendants of the Knights Templar. I can also say that many people does not know it, and think the Templar are dead, a thing from the past… how mistaken they are.
Here some interesting link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Christ_%28Portugal%29
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