The Templar Pirates by Ernesto Frers © 2007 Destiny Books ISBN
1-59477-146-4 183 pages with Illustrations Paperback
$14.95 (U.S.) $18.95 (Canada)
Over the past several years I have had the pleasure of reading a number of
books on the Knights Templar. More than a few of them have been concerned
with their nautical arm. This is the latest in that trend. As with any
good history of a specific organization or time, the initial part of this
book is devoted those times, events, and personalities which preceded the
organization of the Temple navy and set the die for what was to follow.
There is, naturally, a certain level of speculation involved in the
telling
of this story. Record keeping was not the strong suit of kingdoms and
individuals of this time. Broad outlines were recorded, but the finer
details either were not, or have not survived to the present day (or, if
you
are a conspiracy theorist, have been suppressed for a variety of reasons).
As with many of the Templar-themed books I have read in recent years, this
book is far more involved with the topics of the discovery/exploration of
the American continents, the possible location of Templar "treasures" and
artifacts, and with the subject of Freemasonry than with the nominal
subject
(in this case the piracy which may or may not have followed the official
banning of the Order). In this book about 45 pages are devoted
specifically
to piracy and the Templars, and about 140 pages to the ancillary topics.
Nevertheless, it is an informative, well-written book, capable of being a
good introduction to the connections which exist, or may exist, between
the
"voyages of discovery," piracy, the American Revolution, and Freemasonry.
It does not cover any of these topics in enough detail to be considered
authoritative, but it does give enough coverage to inspire further
research.
It could be a welcome addition to your library if you are interested in
either the Knights Templar or piracy.
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