The Templars. The History of the Great Knightly Order and Other Secret Societies of the Middle Ages

The book, based on extensive historical material, discusses the development of medieval secret societies created by individuals who sought to master and apply mystical knowledge that went far beyond the dogmas of their faith. It reflects the sources of their conflicts with the ruling circles. These include the Templars—warrior monks who proved their devotion to their religion and its truth through the power of arms—and the Assassins, the first monastic military order in Islam, which, while spreading its doctrine, eliminated rivals in the territories it occupied by the hands of the mulahid, fanatic-killers, Muslims, and Christians without much distinction.
In addition to the Templars and Assassins, this historical research narrates about the secret tribunals of Westphalia, known also as the courts of the fema—unique committees of citizen vigilance that executed secret justice and strictly carried out sentences in the Middle Ages when lawlessness reigned in Germany.
This classic research by English historian Thomas Keightley, distinguished by its deep penetration into the subject, is of interest to every curious and inquisitive modern reader.