A 2000 four part History Documentary narrated by Art Malik.
They wielded a double-edged sword, combining military might and impressive financial power. The Pope himself couldn't escape their long shadow and the whispers about a fabulous secret treasure, which was said to include the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant. So who - or what - brought down the mighty Knights Templar? This is the story of an organisation extinct for nearly seven centuries, but whose legacy still echoes through some of today's "secret societies."
The first Templars were French knights dedicated to protecting Christians on pilgrimage to holy sites. Highly trained and passionately devoted to God, they fought with no fear of death and eventually became monks, albeit monks with no problem using a sword on their enemies. The Knights built the world's first multi-national corporation, a huge network of castles, farms and ships all designed to make money to support the Crusades. This financial empire helped Richard the Lionheart and the King of France, but also raised suspicions that these "holy men" were growing too powerful and independent. Thus began the accusations of heresy - and the burnings at the stake.
Professor Malcolm Barber, the world's leading Templar historian, explores the impressive rise and rapid fall of a group ahead of its time. Did the Knights cause the Crusades to ultimately fail? What happened to the surviving heroes of the Order? And - even more important - was there a secret treasure and where might it be now?
Episode 1: Explains how the Templars came about. They do not mention Hugh de Payne or the original group who are credited with the founding of the Templars, but does pick up from the time of the First Crusades, and does cover the circumstances of why a military order was needed, and how the Order was finally acknowledged and accepted.
Episode 2: https://www.bitchute.com/video/69HcbGVsNMoY/
Note: This documentary lacks in production values and is somewhat dry in tone. There is much repetition in the visuals and music which can be a a bit annoying. But as far as the history is concerned, the material is well researched and well presented. The documentary talks in great length about the orthodox history of the Knights Templar rather than dealing with the "occult lore". This was a big plus for me because there are too many documentaries about that subject already, and in most cases there is nothing new.
However, they also examine the legends and stories about the Templars, in the last part, which puts into perspective some of the myths that started almost as soon as the last Templars were put to death. The material is based on the researches of Prof. Malcolm Barber of the University of Reading in England, who appears in this production discussing the history presented. It is augmented with material by Dr. David Nicolle of the University of Nottingham in England as well. Both men are noted Medieval Historians and authors, Prof. Barber being a noted historian on the Crusades, and Dr. Nicolle being very well versed on medieval history, castles and warfare.
If you are new to this subject and looking for a broad overview of the history of the Knights Templar in a short period of time, this is an excellent place to start.
