Table of Contents

Preface

1. An Introduction to Secret Societies

Part One: Setting the Stage
2. Historical Background of the Crusades

Part Two: The Order of Assassins
3. The Assassin Myth
4. Islamic Roots
5. Teachings of Ismailism
6. Enter Hasan
7. An Overview of Hasan's Assassins
8. After Hasan
9. The Syrian Assassins
10. The Nizari Ismailis Today
11. Reflections on the Assassin Order

Part Three: The Knights Templar
12. The First Crusade
13. An Overview of the Order
14. The Early Years
15. The Second Crusade
16. Saladin and the Battle of Hattin
17. The Third Crusade
18. The Fourth Crusade
19. The Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade
20. The Fifth Crusade
21. The Sixth Crusade and the Battle of La Forbie
22. The Seventh Crusade and the Rise of Baybars
23. The Eighth Crusade and Final Defeat
24. The Last Years of the Knights Templar
25. The End of the Order
26. Reflections on the Templar Order

Part Four: Afterword
The Path of the Mysteries

Appendix One

Appendix Two

Endnotes

Selected Bibliography

Index

Maps

About the Author

James Wasserman (1948-2020) was the author and designer of several heralded works on the occult, including Art and Symbols of the Occult (Inner Traditions) and The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Chronicle Books). A twenty-five-year member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, he lived in New York.

Reviews

"A refreshing in-depth look at a critical point in the development of Western esotericism. Eschewing the speculations and wild imaginings with which much occult literature is rife, Wasserman weaves a fascinating tale based on factual data from the best scholarly sources. He is uniquely qualified to handle the subtleties and intricacies of the belief systems and dynamics of these two seminal secret societies."
*Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D., Magus of the Golden Dawn*

"Against a sweeping historical backdrop, Wasserman sheds new light on the interrelationship of these two most powerful orders of the late mediaeval Middle East, their spiritual ideals, and the perennial appeal of their myths."
*Hymenaeus Beta, Frater Superior, Ordo Templi Orientis*

"Wasserman adds profoundly to our understanding of the religious, ideological, and initiatory forces that shaped the development of Western civilization. [He] brings both impeccable scholarship and a rare gift for making even the most complex metaphysical concepts intelligible to his readers."
*Michael A. Aquino, Ph.D., High Priest Emeritus, Temple of Set*

"James Wasserman has done us all a great service by allowing us to access further insights into the beliefs and relevance of these traditions. One always looks forward to such well researched and eloquently written expositions."
*Elias Ibrahim, New Dawn, September-October 2001*

"This book provides a fascinating, if speculative, insight into the secret life of the holy warriors of Christendom and Islam. Recommended."
*The Cauldron, February 2002*

"If you are interested in the factual stories of these extremely influential organizations, you will find this book fascinating."
*Mike Gleason, Witchgrove.org, Mar 2007*