[ Dominic Ozanne ] 

Self-made millionaires Carl Cookson and Hamilton White are both avid collectors. Hamilton, who is known as the “rain man’ of the antiquities world has an amazing collection of artefacts, including Nazi memorabilia, Celtic Gold and even parts of the Mary Rose. Carl who is more outgoing likes to spend his cash on classic motorbikes and prestige cars. Amongst his collection are a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Bentley. But now they have got their most extraordinary items yet – a hoard of Knights Templar treasure, lost and highly sought after for 800 years. The collection includes chalices, a sword, a mixing vessel and ornate chest used to store religious relics.

In this five-part series for the History Channel, Carl and Hamilton travel across Europe and on to the Middle East to track down the provenance of the hoard. In so doing they also unpack the history of the Knights Templar from their formation in the 12th century to their annihilation less than 200 years later. They end their adventure in Portugal, where the hoard was found, discovering that the Templars went underground there and continued their traditions under a different name until the arrival of the Inquisition.