The Tragedy of the Templars: The Rise and Fall of the Crusader States Paperback – 26 Jun. 2014

I purchased this book expecting it to be just about the Crusades. It does do that but it also describes the continual historical decimation of the Middle East by the Muslim Wars and Turkish invasion which lays the foundation of the turmoils in that region today. I have been guilty of reading religious texts and not following through with the historical facts and would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to understand more about the reasons for the Middle Eastern turmoil. Book arrived in plenty of time and I would use this seller again.

Very good service and very good book.

quick service and A very good read

well written holds your interest will look for more books by Michael Haag

As mentioned before, order brilliant, packaging leaves a lot to be desired!

Excellent book

Good book,precise and concise and easy to read,less academic than other books on the period but very good

Having read several works on the Christian Crusades of the Eleventh to the Thirteenth centuries, I've found few to have been as easily readable and as entertaining as Mr. Haag's work. A murky period of history which is still having ramifications today, the author focuses on the Crusader states which were formed during this period on the Levant coast and how they led to the creation of the Knights Templar movement of holy warriors. It's a brutal and bloody study but at the same time very interesting and informative. I couldn't but it down!!Mr. Haag starts the book very well. We are treated to a history of the Middle East in the centuries before the Crusades occurred. This was not an unfamiliar period of history for myself, yet I found the section nothing short of excellent. The author covers the turbulent centuries very well. Sassanian Persia is briefly explained with more focus on the Muslim Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates following. He also emphasizes the initial schisms of the Christian Church too and how many Christian sects were to enjoy a more tolerant existence under their Muslim masters in the Middle East rather than being persecuted in Europe. Ultimately, these Muslim dynasties were to suffer the rise of the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia (The Turks were to become the principle opposition to the initial Christian Crusaders). The dividing of the Roman Empire and the fall of its Western half are also documented in a constructive and relevant manner, detailing how Latin Christianity was to evolve. After this, the scene was set for the Crusades themselves.Whilst 200 years plus are covered by the author, his work settles mainly on explaining the impact of the First and Second Crusades and how they the first led to the formation of the four Christian states of Edessa, Antioch, Tripoli and Jerusalem whilst the second was to lead to their collapse, or at least their reduction in size. Mr. Haag explains the events that led to the beginning of Crusades; the role of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios and his appeals to the West for help; The Papal propaganda machine plus the speeches by Pope Urban in 1095. The role of the strange and lowly characters who associated with the recruitment of pilgrims and soldiers is also revealed in detail. Many a European noble was made and broken during the period.The Crusader states were to survive beyond the initial two crusades, however, they were to continue to lose territory. Repeated attacks over the two centuries led to the eventual conquest of the land once occupied. Both sides were ruthless and massacres and murder were to be the signature of the Crusades. Interestingly, the author covers aspects of how Outremer was to function. The society of the Crusader states were to offer a measure of toleration to both Christians and Muslims, much more so than the Muslim states at the time. Alliances between Muslim and Christian were made and were broken too, especially given the rise of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt and its threat to the Sunni realms.Mr. Haag, doesn't just concentrate on the military aspects of the Crusades. He documents, in extensive detail, the creation of the Templar movement. The Templars were to begin as a group of knights; protectors of Christian pilgrims from Europe against raiding Arab and Turk bandits. They grew into a large movement of well trained, pious and fanatical Christian warriors with an extensive financial might. Indeed, the Templars were to be the first true international bankers, offering money and wealth to whichever European nobility was currently crusading at the time. However, it was not to last. After the fall of Outremer, the Templars re-located to Cyprus, but it was not long before they were to be seen as scapegoats for the failed Crusader campaigns. The French King Phillipe IV saw to it that their organisation was blackened with accusations of heresy and improper conduct. An ignominious decline for a once very powerful, and indeed respected, organisation. By the early 1300s, they had ceased to exist as a political and religious entity.Mr. Haag delivers an excellent history. He covers the subject marvelously and keeps you interested from the start. This is an excellent addition to the already wide library on the subject. Whilst concentrating on the first two crusades and covering the remaining expeditions only briefly, the author still manages to capture the significant events which led to the collapse of Outremer and the final removal of the European Christian enclave from the Middle East.