The Templar Knight
Mysteries of the Knights Templar
Archives
Castle built by Saladin – a picture gallery
A visit to Ajlun castle – built by the nephew of Saladin
Read MoreWere bombs used in the Crusades?
I have just returned from a ten day visit to Jordan – a country with an amazing history sandwiched between Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Over the next few blog posts, I’m going to share the incredible…
Read MoreMore from the biblical city of Gadara – modern Um Qais
I have just returned from a ten day visit to Jordan – a country with an amazing history sandwiched between Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Over the next few blog posts, I’m going to share the incredible…
Read MoreThe mysterious Templar attack on the Assassins
It’s one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Crusades and one to ponder if you get bored with your family’s company over the Christmas dinner – which I am sure you will not. But just in case! The story…
Read MoreTurcopoles – a Crusader’s best friend?
From the Roman empire onwards, armies have always vexed over how to get hold of the necessary manpower. This is particularly an acute problem when an empire is expanding far from home. Supply lines have always needed to be maintained…
Read MoreThe Crusaders in Egypt
From the middle of the twelfth century AD, the crusaders began looking at Egypt as the territory they had to annex if their venture was to have any chance of success. I say “Egypt” but of course the nation that…
Read MoreSaint George and his chains – in Cairo
You all know about Saint George and the Dragon and if you’re English, you’ll be aware that he is the patron saint of England. But there’s a lot more to this saint who was venerated in the Middle Ages. How…
Read MoreThe Battle of Hattin – from the Saracen point of view
The battle at the so-called Horns of Hattin was hugely important for the Crusades – to put it bluntly, it was a disaster for the Christian side. So, let’s summarise why this slaughter of a crusader army by the Saracens…
Read MoreSaladin the merciful – think again!
The truth about Saladin the merciful and his war against the Crusaders and Knights Templar
Read MoreFranciscan friars who begged Muslims for martyrdom
I was in Porto, Portugal a few years back in the church of Saint Francis when I saw a gruesome image of a Saracen beheading a Franciscan friar – and another lying on the ground without his head. Couldn’t resist…
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