I've been asked to write a film script that is based on very loosely interpreted Knights Templar in America myths/legends. Unfortunately I have only a short amount of time to hammer this thing out. Obviously there are a million books out there on the subject of Templars. Does anyone have some recommendations as to what I can read or look at that contains a bit more documented research and less wacky-guy conspiracy theory stuff? It's going to be pure fantasy (think more National Treasure like) but I'd like to try and at least get a few good facts in there. Also, any tips on Templar era armor and weapons. I'd assume it would be standard stuff for the 11-1300's. Thanks all.

The era of the 11-1300's actually was a time of great change in terms of armor (at least toward the latter portion of this timeframe). The "Age of Maile" was ending, and plate armor was supplementing the maile at this time, later to develop into the full suits of plate armour some time afterwards. So perhaps it would be best to narrow down your timeframe more, to get info on historical arms and armor? Those used in 1129 (when the Order was recognized by the Pope), while sharing many similarities, would be somewhat different than those used by 1312 (when the Order was disbanded by the Pope).

What year(s) do you plan to use as the setting for your story?

For a quick overview of history of Templar Knights and some visuals with the text I can recommend:

Knight Templar 1120-1312 (Warrior) - Helen Nicholson (Author), Wayne Reynolds (Illustrator), Osprey Publishing, 2004


And as for "Knights Templar in America" - there's only one work that everybody copies from -

The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America, Scott Wolter (Author), North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc. 2009


But it's no more history than Holy Blood, Holy Grail, the book that Dan Brown copied his "facts" from.
There's also a documentary, I think it went here by the name of "The Hooked X", but elsewhere as "Holy Grail in America".

this title may be a little beyond what your looking for - or not. "templars in america from the crusades to the new word" by tim wallace - murphy, marilyn hopkins, weiser books boston. this book highlights evedance of the st clair family was making regular trading expiditions with the 'new world' in i believe the 11- 12th century. and also promotes the theory that the americans were visited long before 'viking' voyages.

they spotlights the evidence of the newport tower in road island and the westford knight engraving. but if you like dan bown's divince code you'll hate this book because it kills all the myths of rosslyn chapel and it's images.

there is also research on a stone found in i think missouri in a farmers field written in runes that is a possible land calm? i'm not sure i may be a mistaken with that one but maybe someone here can shed some light on that. its just more evidence that north america was discovered and known about long before columbus.

Thank you for the information gentlemen. I pretty much have free reign on the specific time period in question. I'm thinking right now that I'll probably focus it at the end of the era...into the 1300's...using the Papal disbanding as the impetus to "travel". If there is any more information you think would be particularly useful or perhaps an unexplored facet of Templar lore that would be really great to see, I'm open for suggestions.

Since I have some folks in the know here, I did have a particular question...
Is there any validity to the story of Templars joining up with Wallace and Bruce for the campaign against Edward I at the end of the 1200's and into the 13's?

Thanks again!

A large portion of the Templar period would include full body mail coverage. http://www.myArmoury.com/view.html?features/pic_mail01.jpg

We have numerous mid 13th century depictions here on the site, and effigies of famous personalities of the era (William Earl Marshal and others) that give us a pretty solid idea of what was "typical" for a "knight" of that time period. There is not much reason to deliberate the outer appearance of armor we would expect.

While I do believe that the truth is much more interesting than fiction in most cases, sometimes movies can prove to be an exception. After all, the greatest action adventure movies in the history of cinema, (The Indiana Jones trilogy) are nearly pure fantasy, with just the tiniest grain of truth thrown in here and there for good measure! If everything is done well, pure fantasy can work great in a movie. :)

Allen Johnson wrote:

If there is any more information you think would be particularly useful or perhaps an unexplored facet of Templar lore that would be really great to see, I'm open for suggestions.

I would personally love to see a story dealing with the Templars fleeing by sea with their vast gold resources, to keep their riches from the likes of Phillip IV and others conspiring against them. They arrive at Oak Island, off the cost of Novia Scotia, but somehow the whereabouts of their hiding place becomes known to their enemies, and this explains why the elaborate water traps and such were used.

Of course, I think the Oak Island "money pit" is believed to date to the 18th century, or somewhere thereabouts (if anything is buried there at all). But in every documentary I have seen about it, the Templars are always mentioned at least once, just as a possible explanation, among many others, so if that story has not been used yet in a movie, I think it would be very interesting. :D

Great stuff gentlemen...
I was wondering if there was a specific name given to the soldiers that the Pope sent out to capture and kill the Templars on the infamous Oct. 13, 1309? Like were they part of a regiment or specific unit?

Allen, just let us know how the project goes and maybe give us an outline of the story if and when you can without causing too many spoilers. ;) ( I can see that before the film is made and available plot lines might have to be kept secret[i]. ;) ).[/i]