The Tragedy of the Templars

Michael Haag's book should really be called by it's subtitle: The Rise and Fall of the Crusader States, since this is more a potted history of Outremer (as those states in the Holy Land were called) than a detailed history of the Templars. The Templars flit in and out of the story and only really become the focus in the final couple of chapters after the Holy Land has been lost to the Mamelukes.

So, what we have is a history of the Holy Land from the initial incursions by Islamic invaders soon after the death of Mohammed, right through the Crusades to the final fall of Acre and the devastation of the area by the Mamelukes. What is noticeable is that this is a land soaked in blood, all of it due to religion. The various Islamic dynasties that impose their will on the mainly Christian and Jewish population of Egypt and Palestine over the centuries are invaders, religious fanatics for the most part, who treat non-Muslim peoples as the lowest of the low.

Haag's contention is that, far from Christian Crusaders invading Islamic states, they were coming to the aid of the majority Christian population. In today's climate this is probably a controversial statement but it seems that Haag has done his research. The Byzantine Empire called on the Pope to help save Christianity in the East and so the Crusades began. Yes there were ulterior motives on the part of the participants (land, power, kingships), but the overwhelming purpose was to protect the Christian population. Outremer was a multi-cultural society. The crusaders spoke English, French, Arabic, Greek. By contrast the Muslim overlords made no effort to learn other languages.

Haag writes well and this is an easy to read popular history of the Crusader states. It is a tale of devastation on a vast scale through religious dogma, tens of thousands slaughtered, cities razed to the ground, people sold into slavery and all because of differing views on God.

What come out most is that Religion of all stripes has been an excuse for slaughter on an industrial scale. Hopefully humanity can move into a more enlightened age where such dogma is left far behind.

It's an interesting read, but there are better books on the Templars out there if that's your thing.