_Secret Societies of the Middle Ages: The Assassins, the Templars & the Secret Tribunals of Westphalia_ is a reprint of a book first published in 1837 by the Irish scholar Thomas Keightley with an introduction by James Wasserman. This book focuses on three distinct secret societies which operated during the medieval period and sought to preserve knowledge not readily available to the majority. These societies include the Assassins, an Islamic secret society that developed into one of the most feared groups in the world, the Knights Templar, a group of crusading knights that became corrupt and eventually came into conflict with king and pope, and the secret tribunals of Westphalia or the Fehm-Gericht, which actively passed judgments and performed executions during a period of lawlessness in Germany. While Keightley does not recognize the influence of secret societies on the modern world, beginning particularly with the Bavarian Illuminati and the societies behind the French Revolution, his study of these three secret societies is particularly interesting in dealing with the medieval period.
Keightley begins by discussing the Assassins and their role in the development of Islam. Keightley shows how the Islamic religion underwent a schism into Sheah and Soonee branches. Further, Keightley discusses the various sects and doctrines that arose out of each of these branches of the Islamic religion. Next, Keightley discusses the organization of the society and the origin of the name "Assassins". The Assassins were taken up to a mountaintop where they were provided with many pleasures so that they believed themselves to be in paradise. They were told that they had a special mission and took orders from their leader Hassan Sabah, "the Old Man of the Mountain". Their name derives from the drug hashish which they imbibed during their supposed sojourn in paradise. Keightley also details the account given of the Assassins by Marco Polo. Keightley includes much discussion of various obscure aspects of hidden Islamic history.
Keightley next turns his attention to the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar began as a society of crusading knights taking vows to poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, the Templars became corrupt engaging in various unsavory activities as well as becoming very wealthy and engaging in the practice of usury. This led to their eventually coming into conflict with the authorities of the day, the pope and the king. Keightley explains fully the origin and development of the Templars as well as the various other groups of crusading knights that existed at the time.
Finally, Keightley turns his attention to the tribunals of Westphalia or the Fehm-Gericht. At these secret tribunals members of society were judged and tried. These tribunals came to take on an ominous tone because of the vigilante justice which was said to have occurred there. Keightley outlines various aspects of the Holy Vehm or Fehm, including their involvement with various monarchs of the time. Keightley also explains how although these tribunals were originally relatively uncorrupted, they later were to become corrupt as the aristocracy became involved in their dealings.
This book provides an excellent introduction to three important medieval secret societies. These secret societies were to play an important role in the development of later societies which came to advocate for revolution during the modern period. As Keightley's book points out, even during the medieval period various groups sought to actively oppose the ruling establishment and sought to hide knowledge from the masses through their esoteric rites
