Secret Societies of the Middle Ages

Written in the 19th century, Secret Societies of the Middle Ages explores three of the most intriguing clandestine organizations in medieval Europe and the Middle East: the Assassins (a branch of the Ismaili sect), the Knights Templar (the Christian military‑monastic order), and the secret tribunals known as the Fehmic Courts (in medieval Germany).

Keightley begins by situating these groups in their historical contexts—declining empires, religious and political upheavals—and shows how the mechanics of secrecy, ritual, allegiance and power functioned in these societies.  He delves into how the Assassins emerged out of the Islamic‑world context, the Templars grew out of the Crusading era and developed banking and international networks, and how the Fehmic Courts operated as unofficial judicial societies during periods of weak central power.

The book highlights how secrecy gave these groups both tremendous influence and made them vulnerable to suspicion and suppression. Through anecdote and historical narrative, Keightley shows that these organizations were more than mere conspiracies—they were outcomes of their time. As such, the work remains an important early reference on medieval secret societies and their continuing fascination in history.