The Templar Knight

by Jan Guillou Book 2 in the Crusades Trilogy series.

First published 1999

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In 1177, Arn Magnusson has spent ten years in Outremer and commands the Templar fortress at Gaza under the name Al-Ghouti. He is respected as a disciplined soldier who understands Arabic customs and refuses to treat every Muslim as an enemy without distinction. After rescuing a traveller he believes to be a merchant, Arn discovers that the man is Saladin. Their encounter establishes a wary mutual respect even as Arn fights for the Kingdom of Jerusalem and takes part in the campaign culminating at Montgisard.

In Götaland, Cecilia endures confinement at Gudhem while rival clans use the convent and the crown as weapons in their struggle for power. In the Holy Land, Baldwin IV’s death, Guy of Lusignan’s accession and Raynald of Châtillon’s provocations destroy the remaining political restraint. The disaster at Hattin and Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem end the world Arn has defended and finally release him from his sentence. The novel was originally published in Swedish as Tempelriddaren and has also appeared in English as The Knight Templar.