Karen Ralls PhDKnights Templar Encyclopedia: The Essential Guide to the People, Places, Events, and Symbols of the Order of the Temple

Good Reference book

The Knights Templar Encyclopedia, by Karen Ralls, PhD is a highly recommended addition to anyone's library on the Order.The author was a post doctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh before continuing specialist in medieval history research at Oxford. She was a former deputy director of the Rosslyn Chapel Museum exhibition.While the book is written in the format of an encyclopedia, it has much useful information, and is easy to read from cover to cover. Almost any student of the Templars (other than perhaps Malcolm Barber) will learn something.For example, I had never associated the term "troy ounce" with the Templars. At pages 223-224, Ralls describes Troy Weights as being brought from returning crusaders and was adopted at the Champagne fairs.Some terms may not be familiar to many participants at the school as they read some of the assigned texts. "Letter of Credit" is one of those terms. Someone will either have the familiarity to refer to them as "lc's" or not exactly know what they are. At p. 113 Ralls described how lc's developed at the Champagne fairs, where a debt incurred at one fair could be repaid at the next. There is a discussion of the term `Safe DepositRalls handles the speculative topics accurately, and without condescension. For example, she says that with regard to the wife of Hugh de Payns, "nothing for certain is known of his wife or her lineage." She describes how modern Freemasons are not the same organization as the historical Templars, and that the founder of Rosslyn Chapel was not a Templar.Some of the definitions are fun to read. Roger de Flor was a sergeant -brother, who was expelled for piracy. His flag may be the "Jolly Roger."Some of the interesting terms include: "Templar Admiral"; a lengthy discussion of "Black Madonnas"; Office of "Templar Commander" a type of financial controller; the "Draper"; "Geometry"; how the Grand Masters were elected, by a council of 13 electors, eight knights, four sergeants, and a chaplain; the organization of the Templar Order; the Temple Church in London; the aftermath of the trial (a country by country discussion of what happened); and many others.Also very useful are the five appendices and the list of recommended readings (14 pages). The appendices include a time-line, a list of Grand Masters, a list of Popes during 1119-1312, the charges against the Templars, and a listing of selected Templar sites.This is an inexpensive, and important, addition to anyone's Templar library.

Written well. Good layout. Informative

A great A to Z book on the Knights Templar

not to many pics though-- but lots of information here-- did you now people made a black madonna statue? now thats always part of the history theres a pic here and thats interesting to--i should finish reading it-- got busy ha -owens

I now can look up just about everything.

As a genealogist and descendant of many I am hoping this book has information I need

I didn't like it at all because of the way it was laid out. It's alphabetically oriented like a dictionary.

I appreciate the efforts of the writer to put so much into such a small volume. It is excellent reading when you only have a few minutes.

Book looks very well written, although I know nothing about Knights templer, should keep him entertained

Good piece of research in this book. Excellent for me and my research into the Knits Templar. I am well pleased with the contents and price of this item.

Brilliant gift

A small book, ideal for briefcase or handbag and easy to read. Like all encyclopedias each section goes on tho refer to another.