As the Knights Templar grew in influence and wealth they attracted powerful enemies, most notably King Philip IV 'the Fair' of France.
He envied the knights' great wealth and planned to seize their lands as a way of saving the French crown from bankruptcy. He took advantage of rumours swirling around the Templars' secret initiation ceremonies.
All Templars living in France were arrested at dawn on Oct 13 1307, and accused of crimes ranging from corruption to sodomy, witchcraft, heresy and idolatry. The day was a Friday and is said to have been the origin for the superstition that every Friday the 13th brings bad luck. They were interrogated and tortured into giving false confessions, their evidence made public in an attempt to tarnish the order's image.
The remaining Templar leaders in France were executed, including the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, who was burned at the stake in Paris in 1314. Some rank and file Templars were absorbed into other military orders, while others escaped trial and persecution.
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Pope Clement V then became involved and, according to Vatican historians, tried to intervene to save the Templars in France. In 1308 he received a formal act of repentance from a group of senior knights and absolved them of heresy. But at the Council of Vienne in 1312 the Pope disbanded the Templars and issued arrest warrants for all remaining members, in order to keep peace with France and prevent a schism in the Church. Clement issued a Papal Bull which granted the lands of the Templars to the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of St John of Malta.
The remaining Templar leaders in France were executed, including the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, who was burned at the stake in Paris in 1314. Some rank and file Templars were absorbed into other military orders, while others escaped trial and persecution.
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