Born in Portugal, Freddy Silva claims dual citizenship in the United States and Britain. He travels across the world leading tours to the most sacred sites. Over the years, he has given many lectures and is considered a leader in the metaphysics. You can find him on the radio, television or as the author of numerous books where he shares his vast knowledge in ancient history. In First Templar Nation, Mr. Silva argues the claims putting the development of the Knights Templar in 1118. His research shows that it was actually established some time prior to that, an entire decade prior.
The story begins as the reader learns all about the necessity for this group of men and what powerful figures founded it. There are many factors in the details and the relationships between key members that we see play out even later in history. As this brotherhood, makes its way through the countryside we see how they influenced and played a major part in protecting a holy bloodline in Portugal. The reader also gets get a glimpse at what they were fighting for, what they were protecting and what they where hiding.
Silva does a great job of providing text that is rich in history and content but is also reader friendly. He keeps his reader interested and engaged in the playing out of events as if you were reading a fictional story. The reader finds themselves anticipating the next page and bewildered at the information that he presents, and was overlooked by other scholars before him. The reader gets a unique look into some of the lesser known events accredited to this brotherhood.
This book doesn’t sugarcoat the events of this time. Unfortunately, the time of the Knights Templar wasn’t a “pretty” time in history for any religious background to look at. Silva does a great job researching and providing evidence that isn’t religiously bias, but instead based on actual accounts in history. The reader gets a bird’s eye view of how events that eventually play a major part in the worlds history, play out over many decades.
As the book concludes, Silva has several pages dedicated to his notes and a bibliography. This information is very important to a reader who is interested in following up with further research on a specific area of interest found in the book or one is just curious where Silva may have got some of his ideas. These pages will direct the reader in precisely the literature they wish to find.
I would recommend this book anyone interested in religious history. It has connections to Christianity and to Paganism, alike. Even seasoned Knights Templar enthusiasts will find this take on their journey very eye opening and worth further contemplating what they thought they already knew about the history of the brotherhood.
~review by Keri Nichol
Author: Freddy Silva
Destiny Books, 2017
p.429 , $19.95
