When I was in school, I never had much interest in history lessons. I found it boring and uninteresting. I’m not sure why this was, maybe because there was very little ancient history. Or if there was, I have no memory of it. However, since I’ve started reading the Brethren trilogy (written by Robyn Young), I have become intrigued about this period in our history, where the West launched their Crusades in the hopes to conquer the Holy Land.
Being a bit of an atheist myself, I am incredibly skeptical about the motives of the people who initially launched the Crusades. Was it really about religion? Was it really about liberating the Holy Land? Why did the Western Christians believe they had a better claim to Jerusalem than the Jews and the Muslims? Instead, wasn’t it all fueled by greed? By a hunger for power and wealth and expanding territories? I suppose we shall never know the true answer…
The Knights Templar were the mightiest military order of that time and answered to the Pope only. Their wealth was immeasurable and they had the ability to make and unmake kings. I have become fascinated, not only with this particular Order, but the entire period of Crusades and the opposing factions battling with each other for control.
Did the people starting the Crusades do this because they truly believed? What would they have done if they had known that their actions would echo through history for a thousand years? To this day, people are still fighting and squabbling over the Holy Land. People are still dying, because they believe they have more right to be there than others. What would the world have looked like if the Crusaders hadn’t invaded the East?
I don’t know. But, I’m intrigued by the questions and they make me want to find out as much as I can about this period. The Knights Templar, Hospitallers, Teutonics… The Crusaders. However, Brethren also opened my eyes to the other side of the story. To look at it from the Muslims point of view; the Mamluk regiments facing the infidel and trying to defend their territories and defeat them.
Where did I want to go with this post? I can’t remember, or I think I might never have had a point except to put these thoughts down somewhere.
Either way… If you’re into history, middle ages and the Crusades in particular then the Brethren trilogy is a must-read!
