The Great Courses – The Knights Templar: A History Strange and True 2025-9

Updated August 10, 2026 9.32 GB

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The Knights Templar: A History Strange and True, Hidden treasures. Secret societies. War and plunder. You’ve heard the stories, seen the movies, pondered the conspiracy theories. You know that the Knights Templar are said to be connected with the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant, the Freemasons—even Oak Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia. But who were they really? The Knights Templar: A History Strange and True takes you on a thrilling journey to the Middle Ages to discover the real history of this order of warrior-monks. Over 24 riveting lectures, Dr. Dorsey Armstrong, a distinguished medieval scholar at Purdue University, peels back the layers of legend to reveal the flesh-and-blood reality of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. Founded to protect Christian travelers in the Levant, the Templars evolved from a humble band of knights to a military and financial powerhouse, responsible for managing the wealth of nobles and defending Crusader states. Dr. Armstrong traces their cinematic arc from 1119 to the aftermath of October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France orchestrated a mass arrest, accusing the Templars of heresy, idolatry, and treason. What happened at the end of their era? Did they all disappear back into Europe? Or did something of their order live on? Look beyond conspiracies around the Freemasons or The Da Vinci Code to discover the real legacy of the Knights Templar: a unique fusion of faith, finance, and warfare that shaped medieval Europe and continues to spark our imaginations today.

What you’ll learn

Begin your journey with an introduction to the Knight Templar, an order of monk-knights founded around 1119. Before delving into their rise to power, this first lecture sets the stage with an exploration of Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. Learn about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
With the stage set, now it’s time to explore what led to the founding of the Knights Templar. Here, dive into the First Crusade, beginning with Pope Urban II’s 1095 call to reclaim Jerusalem and resulting in the need for Christian pilgrims to be protected as they traveled from Europe to the Holy Land.
Meet Hugues de Pans and Godfrey de Saint-Omer, two knights who recognized the need for a protective order and decided to do something about it. In their early years, the order defied the traditional Three Estates Model, blending knightly and monastic duties. Trace their rise from humble beginnings to papal legitimacy.
Promotion and Criticism of the Order