Jerusalem, 1119. The roads to the Holy City run red, fraught with danger and betrayal. Pilgrims seeking salvation are easy prey, until a small band of knights dares to take a stand.

Hugh de Payens, battle-weary and disillusioned, dreams of peace yet sees only blood. Witnessing firsthand the carnage inflicted upon innocent travelers, he vows to forge an order unlike any other—an order founded not on conquest or wealth, but on protection and sacrifice.

With just nine trusted men, Hugh forms the legendary Knights Templar, pledging their swords to defend the vulnerable, uphold sacred vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and dedicate their lives to a mission that others mock as madness.

Yet beneath the shadows of Jerusalem’s walls, threats brew from every corner: envious kings, suspicious priests, ruthless bandits—and an ancient secret buried deep beneath the Temple Mount, waiting to be unearthed. As alliances form and loyalties fracture, Hugh and his Templars must navigate a deadly game of faith, politics, and war.

In a city where trust is scarce and danger constant, can the fledgling order survive to fulfill their sacred duty?

Rich with historical detail and heart-pounding action, The Founding is a gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and the birth of a legend.

Powerful, vivid storytelling that immerses readers in the brutal yet compelling world of the Crusades and the legendary warriors who shaped history.