The Knights Templar were brutally crushed in the year 1307 by order of the King of France and the Pope. We still struggle to understand why this order of holy warriors was annihilated after years of courageous service in the Crusades. However, the investigation detailed here reveals the links between the trials of the Templars and the witch hunt mania that was about to grip Europe for three hundred years. Their downfall foreshadowed a dark phase in our history. The knights were accused of horrific crimes that included spitting on the crucifix of Jesus, worshipping a demonic head, and engaging in secret rituals that disgusted medieval Christians. Heresy and sodomy were the two main charges levelled at the Templars. Were they framed or was there a germ of truth in the allegations? For centuries, people have wondered what happened to the fabled treasure of the Templars, including the Holy Grail. The clues are examined to find out exactly what this treasure was and where it may have ended up. The most common question asked about the Knights Templar is: do they still exist today? This book introduces you to those who claim to be the inheritors of the Templar legacy. Is it possible that the knights survived and endured to the present day? AUTHOR: Tony McMahon is a broadcaster and author who has been writing and speaking on TV about the Templars for nearly twenty years. He has appeared in many documentaries including Tales from Oak Island, Truthseekers, and Secrets of the Royal Palaces. He is a former BBC news producer and lives in London. 30 b/w illustrations
