The Knights Templar: With Dan Jones
More Interviews
•
44m
They might be more famous today for their cameos in The Da Vinci Code and Assassin’s Creed, but in real life they were an army of valiant, daring Crusaders famous for their self-discipline, who fought in the Middle Ages' most bloody battles. They were allowed no sex, no personal possessions, and no fun – but they were some of the most formidable fighters and they quickly accrued power and wealth. The order was initially set up to protect pilgrims, who would attempt to make dangerous journeys between the cities and sites of interest in the Holy Lands – journeys that required traversing paths filled with rotting bodies on either side, as the time it would take to bury fellow pilgrims would most likely result in one’s own death. The Knights were answerable only to the Pope and didn’t have to pay many taxes, which meant they quickly became financially secure and wielded great power across various countries. In this episode, Dan Snow meets the man with whom he is often confused, bestselling writer of Medieval history Dan Jones. He discusses his book 'The Knights Templar' at the Temple Church in Central London, the physical embodiment of this medieval religious order that also trained warrior monks.
Up Next in More Interviews
-
Debunking the Myths of the Titanic
At noon on 10 April 1912, crowds gathered at Southampton to watch the maiden voyage of the World's largest ship RMS Titanic. A sleek, modern luxurious liner that was offering a safe and fast crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Titanic was said to be invincible. She cruised down Southampton waters on ...
-
Strategic Bombing in World War Two wi...
Aviation historian Victoria Taylor answers key questions about the air war of World War Two: from the significance of the Dambusters raid to how we should remember "Bomber" Harris.
-
SAS Shadow Raiders
In the winter of 1941 an alien-seeming object was spotted by an RAF reconnaissance pilot flying a lone unarmed Spitfire across the French coast. Balanced upon the cliffs near Le Havre was what appeared to be a giant convex dish, directed across the Channel at the war-torn British coastline. With ...
