Friday the 13th & Knights Templar

I've done a ton of research on this over the years and this is the best explanation I've come across.  And the one that makes the most sense.  Some might say that I'm romanticizing the Knights Templar and maybe I am.  But only a little.  If I tend to ramble on a bit, forgive me.  I love medieval history!  On the other hand, this is really just an overview.  There will be details left out.

First of all, in 1065 a.d. the Turks captured Jerusalem and slaughtered 3000 Christians and treated any remaining Christians so badly that people were stirred to fight in crusades.  In 1099, when Crusaders took back the city of Jerusalem, the Knights Templar (originally called Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ) were formed to protect people making pilgrimages to the Holy City.

Pilgrimages were made to confirm faith.
Some were made for healing, others for forgiveness, among other reasons.

The Knights had no church and no particular place to live.  In 1118, they were given space to live in the sacred enclosure of the temple on Mount Moriah.  Since this was being exhibited by priests as the Temple of Solomon, the knights were then called the Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon.  The name was shortened to Knights Templar.

Over time, the Knights were given land and, eventually gold, silver and other coinage.  As to why they were awarded such things, I did not investigate that deeply.  However, I am sure some was given as compensation, some was given in gratitude and some was given as bribes.  Some might even have been...appropriated.  The Knights were still men, after all.

Eventually, the Knights moved to France (where their first land grant was located), established rules of order and were honored by Pope Honorius and several kings.  In 1139, Pope Innocent II issued a Papal Bull which decreed that the Knights should pledge allegiance to no one but the Pope.

Pope Innocent II

Overall, the Knights were honorable men with strong ethics.  For example, Edward I of England ransacked the Knights treasury, taking the proceeds to the Tower of London.  Yet, in 1271, when Edward I was poisoned during a battle, it was the Knights' Master who sent the drugs that saved Edward's life.

In 1307, King Philip IV of France, who was already heavily in debt to the Knights, was refused a further loan.  In a fit of pique, he ordered the arrest of all Knights Templar in France.  It is recorded in French Masonic records that Templar ships left France heading for Scotland two days before the arrest of many of the Knights.

Now we get to the point!

It was Friday the 13th of October 1307 that the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, and 60 of his senior Knights were dragged from their beds and charged with heresy and homosexuality.  Some were hung or burned that very night without due process.  Most gave admissions of guilt after several days of torture.  Pope Clement V (who was in cahoots with Philip IV) initiated enquiries into the order and thousands of Knights across Europe were arrested.  Most of them put to death--in various horrific ways--or imprisoned.  Death was preferable to prison since most of the imprisoned Knights were tortured or left to starve.

The chosen method of execution for Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was immolation.

In 1312 the order was dissolved by the council of Vienne.  Anyone harboring a Knight was subject to excommunication or worse.  Much of the Templar property outside of France was transferred to the Knights Hospitallers, and many of the remaining Knights were accepted into the Hospitallers as well.  Of course, any property and assets that were in France was seized by King Philip IV.

King Philip IV of France c. 1295

So there you have it.  Most of this is backed up by records in various places.  I got some of my info as to dates, places and names from: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-templar-history.htm

Some information I have gleaned from various books and manuscripts that I've read over the years.  Aside from Jacques de Molay, whose execution was recorded, I will admit to a little bit of conjecture as to methods of execution and imprisonment, but that is based on what I have learned about such things in the Middle Ages.

So don't wish anyone a Happy Friday the 13th, because the original was anything but happy!