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. This is important if justice is to be done to the Templars' supposed association with the Holy Grail and other medieval and modern legends. Illustrations include significant sites in the Holy Land connected with the Order, and illustrations showing kings and popes associated with the Order and saints to whom the Order had special devotion (e.g. the Blessed Virgin, St George, St Euphemia). Maps showing Templar fortifications in the Crusader States and Templar houses in Europe are included.