Arn Magnusson
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Arn Magnusson is a fictional character created by Swedish writer and author Jan Guillou. He is said to have been born in Arnäs in 1150. At the age of 5, he had an accident, and he saved his life due to his mother's prayers to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Since the boy was saved, his parents decided that in reward for the miracle, he was to be sent to a convent, where he spent twelve years.
In this convent, later named Vitae Schola, he met brother Guilbert, a former Knight Templar, who instructed him in the use of the sword and the art of medieval war in the Holy Lands. The Prior of the convent, Father Henri, told Arn to witness for himself the outside world, and only after that he would be able to take the eternal vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Arn did so, but fell into the terrible sin of having had sexual intercourse with two sisters before marriage. His fianceé's sister, Katarina, gave this fact away, and he was doomed to spend 20 years in the Holy Lands, as a Knight Templar.
At the age of 27, Arn is already a veteran in the Crusader army, when he faces the strangest experience a Knight Templar can have. While pursuing a band of saracen thieves, he comes across the very enemy of all Christianhood, Saladin, and saves his life. After this, both become very close friends, but great enemies at the same time. After a series of unimportant battles, Saladin seizes the city and fortress of Gaza, where Arn served as commander. Saladin spares Arn's life, while willing to get a bigger prize, the city of Jerusalem. Arn is given the order to march with all his knights, and they finally defeat Saladin's army at the Battle of Montgisard. When Arnaud de Toroge is named Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Arn is summoned to Jerusalem to become Master of the city.
