Templars' Last Stand - Acre 1291

This day in 1291, saw the breach of the great walls of the last Crusader city in the holy Land. Acre had been under siege since 5th April, but the undermining and collapse of one of the towers and gates spelt doom for the beleaguered garrison.

Templar Grand Master William Beaujeu had spent the previous several years desperately trying to alert local Christian magnates, and the pope and Western kings as well, aware of the existential threat posed by the Muslim Mamluk forces. Time and time again, his far-sighted warnings had been ignored.

All that remained now was for the defenders to sell their lives as dearly as possible, in order to buy time for the evacuation of as many women and children as possible to Cyprus and safety.

The full story is told in the closing chapter of our comprehensive official history of the Knights Templar Order during the Crusade, Pilgrims of the Sword. See our online store or Amazon books to order your copy today!

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