'The Templar is a fearless knight, who, as the body is covered with iron, so the soul is the defence of the faith. Without doubt, fortified by both arms, he fears neither man nor demon.' St Bernard of Clairvaux. Much has been written about the Knights Templar in recent years, most of it highly speculative and with no historical foundation. They have been associated with everything from Freemasonry to the Holy Grail, the pyramids, the Shroud of Turin and space travel. A leading specialist in the history of this legendary medieval order now writes a full account of the knights of the Order of the Temple of Solomon, to give them their full title, bringing the latest findings to a general audience There is no other accurate popular history of the Templars currently available aimed at a general audience. Helen Nicholson is excellently qualified to write this book, since she has a specialised knowledge of the medieval legends of the Templars in the contemporary romantic and epic literature.