TEMPLAR MYTHS

For an organisation that shrouded itself in mystery, the Knights Templar is surprisingly well known. Perhaps the reason we still remember this order of medieval warrior monks – fixate on them, even – is because they wanted to keep their initiation rites and other practices top secret. In turn, the Templars have made a convenient plot device to carry countless books, TV shows and video games. Historian Dan Jones’ book The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God’s Holy Warriors demystifies the monks and their elusive practices – here he shares what got him interested in the order, and some of the discoveries from his research.

What was it about the Knights Templar and its mysterious practices that drew you in as a historian?

For me, it’s one of, the video games, , Indiana Jones and a TV show called .