Friday the 13th - The arrest of the Templars
Philip IV's devious plan to seize the Templar treasures involved taking the entire order into custody in one fell swoop - a awesome task considering there were around 15,000 Templars in France at the time. The arrest orders, dated 19th September 1307 were put in sealed envelopes and sent to all the royal seneschals three weeks before the arrests with strict instructions not to be opened before Thursday 12th October. The letter stated:
"A bitter thing, a lamentable thing, a thing horrible to think of and terrible to hear, a detestable crime, an exercrable evil deed, an abominable work, a detestable disgrace, a thing wholly inhuman, foreign to all humanity, has, thanks to the reports of several persons worthy of faith, reached our ears, not without striking us with great astonishment and causing us to tremble with violent horror, and as we consider its gravity an immense pain rises in us, all the more cruelly because there is no doubt that the enormity of the crime overflows to the point of being an offence to the divine majesty, a shame for humanity, a pernicious example of evil and a universal scandal."
The scene was set.
In the early hours of Friday 13th October 1307 the royal seneschals descended upon the orders Preceptories all across France and arrested every Templar that they found. Philips actions were highly illegal, he had no authority to arrest members of an order responsible only to Rome, but he hoped to justify his actions with the trumped up accusations provided by two former Templars. The royal troops burst into the Paris Temple and placed the Grand Master, Jaques de Molay, and 60 other brethren under arrest. The Knights offered no resistance even though the Paris Temple was built as a highly defensible installation.
Within hours almost every Templar had been arrested in France but it appears Philips secretive plan was not as effective as he had hoped. There is evidence that members of the Order either suspected the actions of Philip or were tipped off about the arrests. Days before Jaques de Molay had recalled many of the Orders books and rules and had them destroyed, in addition a note was circulated to all the French Preceptories outlining that no information regarding the Order's customs or rituals was to be released. A Knight who had retired from the Order was told by the treasurer that he was extremely wise as a terrible catastrophe was imminent. In any case many Knights connected in some way to the Orders treasury managed to elude Philips men, as did much of the treasure being smuggled by wagons to the Orders naval base at La Rochelle where it was loaded onto 18 galleys. The galleys set sail hours before the arrests never to be seen again. They certainly escaped Philips clutches as there are no records of any Templar ships being taken by him. Strong evidence suggests that many escaped to Scotland. For those Brothers who were not so lucky a horrible fate awaited them - interrogation and torture at the hands of the Inquisition.
The Accusations
When the Templars were arrested on that fateful day of Friday 13th October 1307 they were presented with a huge list of accusations. The man responsible for drawing up this list was William de Nogaret, Philip IV's Chief officer of state and main advisor up to 1313. Nogaret had been instrumental in the kidnapping and harassment of Pope Boniface, who had opposed Philip over the taxing of Church property, which had ultimately brought about his death. During the trial many new accusations were added until the final list consisted of 127 articles.
The accusations can be summed up into 7 major groups:
The denial of Saints and of Christ as the savior and of defiling the cross by trampling, spitting or urinating on it.
Adoration of an idol. The idol was referred to under many names such as Baphomet, Caput, Capud, LVIII or head 58.
The renouncement of Holy sacraments, the alteration in the ceremony of the Mass and an unorthodox form of absolution.
The practice of an obscene ritual kiss during initiation ceremonies. Initiates were alleged to have been kissed on the navel, stomach, lower spine or buttocks.
Obtaining wealth through unlawful methods and of hoarding money instead of putting it to good use.
Treachery to other sections of the Christian forces. The Order was also accused of being in league with the infidel and worked to put the Holy Land back in the hands of the Saracens.
Holding highly secret, heavily guarded meetings.
The full list of the 127 articles, dated 12th August 1308, is as follows:
"These are the articles on which inquiry should be made against the Order of the Knighthood of the Temple.
Firstly that, although they declared that the Order had been solemnly established and approved by the Apostolic See, nevertheless in the reception of the brothers of the said Order, and at some time after, there were preserved and performed by the brothers those things which follow:
Namely that each in his reception, or at some time after, or as soon as a fit occasion could be found for the reception, denied Christ, and sometimes Christ crucified, sometimes Jesus, and sometimes God, and sometimes the Holy Virgin, and sometimes all the saints of God, led and advised by those who received him.
Item (that) the brothers as a whole did this.
Item, that the majority (of them did this).
Item, that (they did this) also sometimes after the reception.
Item, that the receptors said and taught those whom they were receiving, that Christ, or sometimes Jesus, or sometimes Christ crucified, is not the true God.
Item, that they told those who whom they received that he was a false prophet.
Item, that he had not suffered nor was he crucified for the redemption of the human race, but on account of his sins.
Item, that neither the receptors nor those being received had a hope of achieving salvation through Jesus, and they said this, or the equivalent or similar, to those whom they received.
Item, that they made those whom they received spit on a cross, or on a representation or sculpture of the cross and an image of Christ, although sometimes those who were being received spat next (to it).
Item, that they sometimes ordered that this cross be trampled underfoot.
Item, that the bothers who had been received sometimes trampled on the cross.
Item, that sometimes they urinated and trampled, and caused others to urinate, on this cross, and several times they did this on Good Friday.
Item, that some of them, on that same day or another of Holy Week, were accustomed to assemble for the aforesaid trampling and urination.
Item, that they adored a certain act, (which) sometimes appeared to them in their assembly.
Item, that they did this in contempt of Christ and the orthodox faith.
Item, that they did not believe in the sacrament of the altar.
Item, that some of them (did not believe).
Item, that the majority (of them did not believe).
Item, that nor (did they believe) in other sacraments of the Church.
Item, that the priests of the Order by whom the body of Christ is consecrated did not speak the words in the canon of the mass.
Item, that some of them (did not).
Item that the majority (did not).
Item, that the receptors enjoined this upon them.
Item, that they believed, and thus it was told to them, that the Grand Master could absolve them from sin.
Item, that the Visitor (could).
Item, that the preceptors (could), of whom many were laymen.
Item, that they did this de facto.
Item, that some of them (did).
Item, that the Grand Master of the aforesaid Order confessed this, in the presence of important persons, before he was arrested.
Item, that in the reception of the brothers of the said Order or at about that time, sometimes the receptor and sometimes the received were kissed on the mouth, on the navel, or on the bare stomach and on the buttocks or the base of the spine.
Item, (that they were kissed) sometimes on the base of the spine.
Item, (that they were kissed) sometimes on the penis.
Item, that in the reception they made those who were being received swear that they would not leave the Order.
Item, that they regarded them straightway as professed brethren.
Item, that they held these receptions secretly.
Item, that there was no one present except the brothers of the said Order.
Item, that on account of this vehement suspicion had, for a long time, worked against the said Order.
Item, that it was generally held.
Item, that they told the brothers whom they received that they could have carnal relations together.
Item, that it was licit for them to do this.
Item, that they ought to do and submit to this mutually.
Item, that it was not a sin for them to do this.
Item, that they did this, many of them (did).
Item that some of them did.
Item, that in each province they had idols, namely heads, of which some had three faces, and some one, and others had a human skull.
Item, that they adored these idols or that idol, and especially in their great chapters and assemblies.
Item, that they venerated (them).
Item, that (they venerated them) as God.
Item, that (they venerated them) as their savior.
Item, that some of them (did).
Item, that the majority of those who were in the chapters (did).
Item, that they said that the head could save them.
Item, that (it could) make riches.
Item, that it gave them all the riches of the Order.
Item, that it made the trees flower.
Item, that (it made) the land germinate.
Item, that they surrounded or touched each head of the aforesaid idols with small cords, which they wore around themselves next to the shirt or the flesh.
Item, that in his reception, the aforesaid small cords or some lengths of them were given to each of the brothers.
Item, that they did this in veneration of an idol.
Item, that it was enjoined on them that they should wear the small cords around themselves, as is set out, and wear them continually, and they did this even by night.
Item, that the brothers of the said Order were generally received in the aforesaid manner.
Item, that (it was done) everywhere.
Item, that (it was done) by the majority.
Item, that those who were not willing to do the aforesaid at their receptions were killed or imprisoned.
Item, that some of them (were).
Item, that the majority (were).
Item, that they enjoined them, on oath, that they should not reveal the aforesaid.
Item, that (this was done) under punishment of death, or imprisonment.
Item, that nor should they reveal the manner of reception.
Item, that neither should they dare speak about the aforesaid among themselves.
Item, that if any were found to have revealed (theses things), they were punished by death or prison.
Item, that they enjoined them not to confess to anyone except a brother of their Order.
Item, that the said brothers of the Order, knowing the said errors, neglected to correct them.
Item, that they neglected to inform Holy Mother Church.
Item, that they did not retreat from the observance of the aforesaid and the community of the aforesaid brothers, although they had the opportunity for retreating and for doing the aforesaid.
Item, that the aforesaid things were done and preserved beyond the sea, in places in which the Grand Master and chapter of the said Order were at the time staying.
Item, that sometimes the aforesaid denial of Christ was done in the presence of the Grand Master and the chapel of the aforesaid.
Item, that the aforesaid things were done and observed in Cyprus.
Item, that (they were done) on this side of the sea in all Kingdoms and in other places in which receptions of the aforesaid brothers were made.
Item, that the aforesaid things were observed in the whole Order generally and communally.
Item, that (they were) of long and general observance.
Item, that (they were) of ancient custom.
Item, that (they were) from the statute of the aforesaid Order.
Item, that the aforesaid observances, customs, ordinances and statutes were made and observed in the whole Order, beyond the sea and on this side of the sea.
Item, that the aforesaid were from points of the Order, having been introduced by their errors after the approval of the Apostolic See.
Item, that the receptions of the brothers of the said Order were made generally in the aforesaid manner in the whole Order aforesaid.
Item, that the Grand Master of the said Order enjoined that the aforesaid be thus observed and done.
Item that the Visitors (did).
Item,that the preceptors (did).
Item, that the other leaders of the said Order (did).
Item, that these self-same men observed this, and taught that it be done and preserved.
Item, that others of them (did).
Item, that the brothers did not preserve another mode of reception in the said Order.
Item, that it is not within the memory of anyone of the Order who is living that there has been observed in their time another mode (of reception).
Item, that the Grand Master, the Visitors, the preceptors and the other Masters of the said Order, having power in this, punished gravely (those) not preserving nor willing to preserve the aforesaid manner of reception and the other things above when a complaint was brought against them.
Item, that the charitable gifts in the said Order were not made as they ought, nor was hospitality offered.
Item, that they did not reckon (it) a sin in the said Order to acquire properties belonging to another by legal or illegal means.
Item, that it was authorized by them that they should procure increase and profit to the said Order in whatever way they could by legal or illegal means.
Item, that it was not considered a sin to commit perjury on this account.
Item, that they were accustomed to hold their chapters in secret.
Item, that (they were held) secretly, either at first sleep or in the first vigil of the night.
Item, that (they were held) secretly, since all other familia of the house had been sent out and the house had been closed, as they sent out all the familia on those nights when they held chapters.
Item, that (they were held) secretly, because in this way they shut themselves up when a chapter was held, as all the doors of the house and church in which they were holding the chapter they fortified so firmly that no one might nor could gain access to them or near them, nor could anyone see or hear what they were doing or saying.
Item, that (they were held) so secretly that they were accustomed to place a guard on the roof of the house or church in which they were holding the chapter, in case anyone approached the place in which they were holding the chapter.
Item, that they observed and were accustomed to observe similar secrecy, as was usual in the receiving of brothers.
Item, that this error flourishes and has flourished in the Order for a long time, since they hold the opinion, and held in the past that the Grand Master can absolve the brothers from their sins.
Item, that the greater error flourishes and has flourished, that these hold and have held in the past that the Grand Master can absolve the brothers of the Order from sin, even (sins) not confessed which they omitted to confess on account of some shame or fear of the penance to be enjoined or inflicted.
Item, that the Grand Master has confessed these aforesaid errors before capture, spontaneously, in the presence of ecclesiastics and laymen dignified in the faith.
Item, that the majority of the preceptors of the Order were present.
Item, that they hold and have held the aforesaid errors, not only through the opinions and beliefs of the Grand Master, but from other preceptors and especially from leading Visitors of the Order.
Item, that whatever the Grand Master, especially with his chapter, made, ordained and legislated, the whole Order had to hold and to observe and also was observed.
Item, that this power appertained to him and has resided in him from of old.
Item, that the aforesaid depraved habits and errors had lasted for such a time that the Order could have been renewed in personnel once, twice or more from the time of the introduction or observation of the aforesaid errors.
Item, that...all or two-thirds of the Order, knowing the said errors, neglected to correct them.
Item, that they neglected to inform Holy Mother Church.
Item, that they did not retreat from the observance of the aforesaid errors and from the community of the said brothers, although they had the opportunity to do the aforesaid.
Item , that many brothers of the said Order, because of the filth and errors of their Order, departed, some transferring to another Order and others remaining in secular life.
Item that on account of each of the aforesaid, great scandals have arisen against the said Order in the hearts of elevated persons, even of kings and princes, and have been generated in almost the whole of the Christian population.
Item, that all and each of the aforesaid have been observed and manifest among the brothers of the said Order.
Item, that concerning these things there is public talk, general opinion and repute both among the brothers of the Order and outside.
Item, that (there is) concerning the majority of the aforesaid.
Item, that (there is) concerning others.
Item, that the Grand Master of the Order, the Visitor and the Grand Preceptors of Cyprus, Normandy and Poitou, as well as many preceptors and some other brothers of the said Order, have confessed what is written above, both in judicial inquiry and outside, in the presence of appointed persons and also before public persons in many places.
Item, that some brothers of the said Order, knights as well as priests, also others, in the presence of our lord pope and of the lords cardinal, have confessed the aforesaid or a great part of the said errors.
Item that (they have confessed) through the swearing of oaths by them.
Item that also they have certified the aforesaid in full consistory."
Papal Bulls
The following section lists the papal bulls Pope Clement V issued during his reign that affected the Order.
Pastoralis Praeeminentiae On 22nd November 1307 Clement issued the Papal Bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae which ordered the monarchs of Christendom to arrest all Templars and to seize the Order's land. This Bull initiated actions against the Order in France, England, Germany, Italy, Cyprus and Iberia.
Faciens Misericordiam The Bull Faciens Misericordiam was issued on 12th August 1308 and set out proceedings against the Order so far.
Regnans in Coelis In July 1308 Clement issued a further Papal Bull, Regnans in Coelis. In this he laments on how disastrous it is for such a noble order to be accused of such deeds.
Subit Assidue On 5th July 1308 Clement issued the Bull Subit Assidue. It explained why he had suspended the powers of the inquisition six months earlier, saying he was not informed of the plan of the arrests and was generally concerned with the haste in which the proceedings against the Order were being carried out.
Alma Mater The Papal Bull Alma Mater was issued by Pope Clement on 4th April 1310. It stated that the Council of Vienne, which would decide whether the Order be guilty or innocent, should be postponed for a year as the inquiry was taking longer than expected.
Ad Providam The Bull Ad Providam was issued by Clement on 2nd May 1312. This Bull handed over all Templar property to the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem - the Knights Hospitaller, so that it could be used for the cause it had been originally donated, to protect the Holy Land.
Vox in Excelso The Bull that finally brought down the Order.
