Templar Traitor: The Englishman Who Fought for Genghis Khan (The Mongol Knight)
With Templar Traitor, Angus Donald launches a bold new series that plunges readers into the chaos of 13th-century Europe, where Christendom faces the unstoppable tide of the Mongol horde. Based on a true story, this richly detailed and atmospheric novel combines historical authenticity with a sweeping tale of betrayal, survival, and identity.
The story opens in July 1241, as Europe reels from Mongol victories across Russia, Poland, and Hungary. At Vienna, German knights clash with Mongol scouts, only to uncover a shocking secret: among their prisoners is an Englishman, Robert of Hadlow, once a Templar Knight. Expelled from the Order for gambling, Robert’s long, perilous journey east has led him to ride alongside Genghis Khan’s feared horsemen. His capture raises disturbing questions. Why did he forsake his faith and homeland? And how did he survive among the so-called enemies of Christendom?
The task of extracting the truth falls to Father Ivo of Narbonne, whose interrogation frames the narrative. Through Robert’s recollections, the reader is swept from the heart of Europe to the harsh deserts and frozen steppes of Asia. Donald excels at bringing to life the world of the Mongols—their customs, strategies, and brutal efficiency—while also humanizing them beyond the “devil horsemen” feared in Europe. Robert’s quest to secure a treaty with the Khan in order to save his brother adds personal stakes to the grand sweep of history.
Donald’s journalistic eye for detail shines through. The novel balances visceral battle scenes with explorations of faith, loyalty, and cultural collision. Fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden will appreciate the blood-pumping action, but it’s the moral complexity and sheer scope of Robert’s odyssey that make this tale unforgettable.
Templar Traitor is a thrilling, immersive saga and a triumphant start to Donald’s new adventure.
