Tony McMahon
Downfall of the Templars

Sunday 28 June 2026, 12.00pm
Layer Marney Tower, Layer Marney, Near Colchester, Essex, CO5 9US

Why were the Knights Templar brutally crushed after years of courageous service in the Crusades? Were they framed for being heretics, sorcerers and traitors? Do the Templars still exist today? Broadcaster and author Tony McMahon investigates the links between the trials of the Templars and the witch hunt mania that was about to grip Europe.

Tickets: £14 (includes entrance to Layer Marney Tower and gardens)
Or all 3 events for £36
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

Event Information

💬 The event will include an audience Q&A session.
📚 Copies of the book will be available to purchase on the day.
🖊️ After the event there will be an opportunity to get the book signed by the author.
🪑 Seats are unallocated.
📸 We will be filming and taking photos at this event.
🚗 There is free parking at the venue
♿ The venue is wheelchair accessible. There are disabled facilities on site.

Tony McMahon

Photo of Tony McMahon © Tony McMahon

The author, Tony McMahon, is a regular face on history and science documentaries on TV. He is one of four Truthseekers on History’s very successful three season series as well as Secrets of the Royal Palaces on Channel 5, William Shatner’s The UnXplained, Forbidden History, Strange Evidence, and many other shows.

Tony McMahon appeared with Tony Robinson and Steve Tibble at the Battle of Evesham Festival in August 2025 to talk about his trilogy of books on the Templars. Downfall of the Templars is the second book. The third, focusing on the Freemason/Templar link, will be published in late 2026.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonymcmahon_historybear
The Templar Knight blog: https://thetemplarknight.com/
Substack: https://tonymcmahon.substack.com/
Tony McMahon on TV: https://tony-mcmahon.com/

Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic?

The Knights Templar – Europe’s first Witches?

New evidence from TV historian Tony McMahon proves that the trials of the Knights Templar between 1307 and 1312 foreshadowed the witch trials about to engulf Europe for over 300 years. Many of the alleged crimes of the Templars mirror the charges brought against thousands of witches. Illicit kisses, demon worshipping, and desecrating the crucifix.

Tony McMahon explains:

“It’s been overlooked that when the Knights Templar were being tortured and executed, the king of France was also burning a group of women called the Beguines. He accused a bishop of murdering the queen using magic potions. And he was trying to put a dead pope on trial for diabolism. Something was happening in medieval society. This was the beginning of the notorious witch trials.”

Plus, while the Templars were on trial – others were being accused of sorcery including a bishop and a dead pope. This was part of a new elite obsession with sorcery and necromancy. The disturbing late medieval trend that would claim the lives of so many is investigated by TV historian Tony McMahon in Downfall of the Templars: Guilty of Diabolic Magic? (Pen & Sword publishers).

Most historians assume the Templars were destroyed by the King of France, Philip IV, eager to grab their fabled riches. But author and historian Tony McMahon shows that the Templar trials between 1307 and 1312 were part of a new and sinister wave of prosecutions against alleged sorcerers and necromancers.

Society was sliding into superstition and darkness. The Templars fell victim to this trend. As our own time sees an onslaught on science and reason, the terrible fate of these knights is an object lesson we all need to learn. And with increased interest in witchcraft, this is a timely book set to provoke widespread interest.

Downfall of the Templars also investigates whether the knights really did have enormous treasure that they successfully hid away. And it sheds light on organisations today that claim to be modern Templars.

Order a copy of the book from bookshop.org.