First Templar Nation: How Eleven Knights Created a New Country and a Refuge for the Grail Paperback – Illustrated, November 21, 2017

The Templar Knights were warrior monks, they were very secretive because they had to be. They were strong Christians, but they were also syncretic in their beliefs, meaning they had to be careful in sharing such views. The members of their order (Knights, etc.) were sworn to protect & never reveal the most sacred of their secrets to outsiders; these secrets were only passed on to those members who believed and proved to be trustworthy, even on pain of torture/death. For many reasons, from then to today, there are questions as to what their true goals/aims were.I have ready many books on the Templar Knights. It was not until I read Freddy Silva's book, "First Templar nation", that I could see how much these particular knights were able to positively affect the whole of Western Europe & the Holy Lands from the earliest days of the Crusades until after the official end of their order in 1312 (arrest in 1307, execution of the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay in 1314), by having established a strong Templar nation in Portugal (under the Burgundian Portuguese ruling dynasty), most notably by keeping the Moors from taking over the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal & Spain) and the rest of Western Europe for many decades.The banking procedures they initiated were controlled & kept safe due to their exceptional coding system. And their distinctive engineering skills were seen in the fortresses, buildings, and churches they built.The author, Freddy Silva, researched for 10 years, and was able to find documents/info unknown before, in Portugal, etc. He was born in Portugal.The Templar Knights were the richest & most powerful warrior monk order in Western Europe & the Holy Lands, for 200 years; this would never have happened, if they were just simple, peaceful monks living in the Holy Lands, during the Crusader period of wars/violence. Just because they were secretive & kept their archives hidden, one has to consider their prowess & presence, during the Crusader period & afterward, as stated above.

I have read several of Freddy Silva's books and this is my favorite! He details the creation of the Templars and WHY they were created. This book exposes that so much you think you know about the Templars is probably wrong. His story is carefully referenced (who knew so many documents from the 11th and 12th centuries can still be located?) and provides the answers to the questions of WHY the Templars went to the Holy Land, WHAT did they find there that caused this non-profit organization to become one of the richest in Europe, and WHERE is their richest treasure hidden? For anyone interested in the real story of the Templar Knights, this is a must-read!

These books are based on solid research, and are overflowing with information. In contrast to many other 'alternative-history' authors, Silva's books are all SUBSTANCE and no fluff. Every sentence carries some knowledges, no flowery rhetoric and empty, contrarian theories. If you watch his videos, you'll see what I mean, as they are the same way - just profoundly educational, very well done, and wonderfully presented. Just beware, sometimes it does feel like they were written in Portuguese and translated into English maybe not too skillfully, but if you take a moment, you'll get the meaning. Highly recommend.

Silva injects intelligent, questioning enthusiasm that makes the history come alive. This was most enjoyable and informative, even at times when it came close to stretching credulity. He takes the reader to the edge then draws back as if to invite the reader to exercise her own perspective and conclusions. This book will accompany me on my trek to Portugal as I trace it's history, interactions with other parts of the ancient (and not so ancient )world, and influences on the national gestalt. Obrigada, O Professor Silva! Apreciei o mundo que você revelou.

Makes you wonder.another example of is what you've been taught and told is really the truth or just what someone wants you to believe

Why the h*ll was this review hidden by Amazon's 'sensitivity filter'? Has everyone gone BS crazy?I’m still a bit gobsmacked with the amount of detail and intrigue surrounding the rise, fall and resurrection of the Templar order. Coming from a Masonic family, I can now understand many of the cryptic things I heard and witnessed as a child. Now, I wish that I had displayed more interest.Amazing read. Very well researched and extremely well written.

This book is priceless. Freddy Silva has done a magnificent job of pulling together a huge collection of facts and ‘coincidences’ into an amazing commentary on the quest of the Templars and their relationship to Portugal, essentially their own nation. I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve read many on this subject and none have been so well-written, touched on so many unexplored avenues of thought and reason, or been so satisfying. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Knights Templar or the possible machinations of other brotherhoods.

A must read for any travels to Portugal!