What Happened To The Knights Templar On Friday The 13th
The Knights Templar, a powerful and secretive medieval order of warrior monks, have long been associated with legends and mysteries. One such legend is their connection to the infamous date, Friday the 13th. Widely regarded as an unlucky day, the original basis for this superstition can be traced back to the events surrounding the downfall and arrest of the Knights Templar in the 14th century.
Established in the early 12th century, the Knights Templar amassed great wealth and wielded significant influence in medieval Europe. But their rise to power was followed by a swift and tragic fall. On Friday, October 13, 1307, under the orders of French King Philip IV, the Templars faced a coordinated mass arrest that marked the beginning of their end. Members of the order were detained on various charges, including heresy and financial malfeasance, and many were later subjected to brutal torture and execution.
Although some historians argue that the link between Friday the 13th and the Knights Templar is coincidental, others maintain that this event laid the groundwork for the superstition we know today. Regardless of the true origins of the Friday the 13th myth, the events of October 1307 have forever cemented a dark association between the ill-fated date and the demise of the once-mighty Knights Templar.
Here’s: What Happened to The Knights Templar on Friday the 13th
On Friday the 13th of October 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar, charging them with blasphemy, idolatry, and institutionalized sodomy. This event marked the beginning of the end for the organization, which was ultimately disbanded and dissolved by the early 14th century.
The Knights Templar Order
The Knights Templar, officially known as The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a monastic military order founded around 1118. Their primary purpose was to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land after the First Crusade.
The order was comprised of unmarried men who took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They were known for their distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, symbolizing their dedication to serving Christ.
As the Templar’s influence grew, they evolved into a powerful military and financial organization. They operated efficiently and had their own network of fortifications, farms, and other holdings throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Their quick rise to power, however, eventually led to their downfall. King Philip IV of France targeted the order for various reasons, including his increasing debts to them. In a well-orchestrated operation, he arrested the leaders of the Knights Templar on October 13, 1307, marking the beginning of their destruction.
Origin of Friday the 13th
One popular belief regarding the origin of Friday the 13th is tied to the fate of the Knights Templar. On October 13, 1307, a Friday, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of members of this powerful Christian military order, as their wealth and power had become a threat to his rule (source).
His avaricious nature is believed to be the driving force behind this decision, having previously attacked other powerful groups like the Lombards (source).
The Templar Knights, known for their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighters during the Crusades.
King Philip IV’s plan was to exterminate all the Knights Templar in a single day, thus eliminating their threat and seizing their assets. The chosen day, Friday, October 13, 1307, marked the beginning of the end for the order, as many Knights were subsequently arrested, tortured, and executed.
Although there are multiple theories about the origins of superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th, the dramatic fall of the Knights Templar has left a lasting impression and may have contributed to the belief that the day is unlucky.
The Connection Between Knights Templar and Friday the 13th
On this day, the Knights Templar, a powerful and wealthy order of Christian Crusaders, faced a sudden and brutal downfall initiated by the French king, Philip IV “The Fair,” and aided by Pope Clement V. The Templars were arrested, tortured, and later executed, marking the beginning of the end for this once-formidable order.
King Philip sought to bring down the Templars mainly due to his financial debts owed to the order. He decided to take advantage of rumors and fabricated charges, including heresy and blasphemy, to justify his actions against them. In the early hours of October 13, 1307, thousands of Templars across France were simultaneously arrested, and the events that followed marked the beginning of their downfall.
Key events of Friday, October 13, 1307:
- Secret documents were sent across France detailing the charges against the Templars.
- King Philip IV ordered the arrest of thousands of Templar members.
- Many Templars were subsequently tortured and coerced into false confessions.
The Arrest of the Templars on Friday the 13th
The Knights Templar, once a powerful military and financial organization, faced a sudden and brutal end in the early 14th century. The arrest of many Templars took place on October 13, 1307, a date that later became associated with the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th.
King Philip IV of France, who was deeply in debt to the Templars and feared their power, orchestrated their arrest. The situation became tense when the Templar banks denied Philip another loan, leading him to move against them aggressively. The arrest was widely regarded as an act of greed, as Philip aimed to dissolve the order and seize their assets.
On that fateful day, hundreds of Templars across France were arrested and subsequently tortured to extract false confessions of heresy, blasphemy, and other crimes. This well-coordinated action was carried out simultaneously in several cities under the king’s directive, and the accusations against the Templars were designed to dismantle their order and reputation.
The Templars languished in prison for two years before 50 of them were burned at the stake in 1310, as ordered by King Philip. The remaining Templars were either executed, imprisoned, or eventually absorbed into other religious orders. The downfall of the Knights Templar remains a dark and enduring chapter in medieval history, and the connection between their arrest and Friday the 13th has persisted in popular culture and superstition.
Pop Culture and Myths Surrounding Knights Templar and Friday the 13th
This connection between the Knights Templar and Friday the 13th has been largely discredited by historians, and it is considered a modern urban legend
Despite the lack of a direct historical link, the mystique surrounding the Knights Templar has been embraced by pop culture, with countless novels, movies, and television shows incorporating their story into themes of adventure and conspiracy. These works of fiction often draw from the Templar myths and legends, merging them with modern subjects, such as treasure hunting or secret societies, making the order even more intriguing to the public.
Some key examples of the Knights Templar in pop culture include the immensely popular Da Vinci Code book-and-movie series by Dan Brown, where the Templar myths are intricately woven into a thrilling tale about a centuries-long religious conspiracy.
The hit video game series Assassin’s Creed also involves the Templar Order as a central antagonistic force in a putatively historical struggle between free will and control.
Movies such as National Treasure also incorporate the legendary Knights into their plotlines, with the protagonist on a quest to discover a treasure hidden by the Templar order.
Regardless of the historical accuracy of these representations, they illustrate the ongoing fascination and influence the Knights Templar have on popular culture, and their association with mysterious legends, such as Friday the 13th, only serves to heighten the intrigue.
FAQs
Who killed the Templars on Friday the 13th?
King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th of October 1307, charging them with blasphemy, idolatry, and institutionalized sodomy. The Templars were rounded up in France and their Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in 1314.
Why were the Knights Templar killed?
The Knights Templar were accused of heresy, threatening the Church’s power and authority, worshipping false gods, and being involved in sexual misconduct. King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Templars on Friday the 13th of October 1307, and the order was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312.
What were the charges against the Knights Templar?
The Knights Templar were accused of various crimes, including heresy, idolatry, blasphemy, and institutionalized sodomy. Some of the other charges against them included denying Christ, spitting on the cross, and worshipping false idols. These accusations led to the arrest and persecution of the Templars by King Philip IV of France in 1307.
What happened to the Knights Templar after they were arrested?
After their arrest, the Templars were subjected to torture and forced to confess to various crimes. Many of them were burned at the stake, while others were imprisoned or executed. The order was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312, and their wealth and property were confiscated by the Church and the state.
What is the current state of the Knights Templar?
The Knights Templar as an organization ceased to exist after their dissolution in the early 14th century. However, their legacy and mythology continue to capture the imagination of people around the world, inspiring countless books, movies, and other works of fiction.
Conclusion
In summary, the connection between the Knights Templar and Friday the 13th is rooted in historical events. The collapse of the order began on Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France initiated a coordinated arrest and seizure of assets throughout the Templar network. However, it is important to note that this date is not the origin of the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th.
The events leading up to this fateful day were a result of the Knights Templar losing their last foothold in the Muslim world by 1303 and the subsequent relocation of their base of operations to Paris. King Philip IV targeted the order, likely motivated by a desire to consolidate power and seize the Templar’s wealth.
Although the dissolution of the Knights Templar was a significant event in medieval Europe, it is crucial to separate the historical context from modern superstitions about Friday the 13th. By doing so, we preserve the integrity of the history of this powerful Christian military order.
Sources:
1307: Knights Templar Arrested on Friday 13th
Why Friday the 13th Spelled Doom for the Knights Templar