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The Story of
Jacques DeMolay |
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The namesake of the Order of DeMolay was
born in Vitrey, Department of Haute
Saone, France in the year 1244. At the
age of 21, DeMolay joined the Order of
Knights Templar.
The Knights Templar was an organization
sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church
in 1128 to guard the road between
Jerusalem and Acre, an important port
city on the Mediterranean Sea. The Order
of Knights Templar participated in the
Crusades and earned a name for valor and
heroism.
With many nobles and princes sending
their sons to join the Knights Templar,
the Order also became very wealthy and
popular throughout Europe.
In 1298, Jacques DeMolay was named Grand
Master of the Knights Templar, a
position of power and prestige. As Grand
Master however, Jacques DeMolay was also
in a difficult position. The Crusades
were not achieving their goals. The
non-Christian Saracens defeated the
Crusaders in battle and captured many
vital cities and posts. The Knights
Templar and the Hospitalers (another
Order of Knights) were the only groups
remaining to confront the Saracens.
The Knights Templar decided to
reorganize and regain their strength.
They traveled to the island of Cyprus,
waiting for the general public to rise
up in support of another Crusade.
Instead of public support, however, the
Knights attracted the attention of
powerful lords, who were interested in
obtaining their wealth and power. In
1305, Philip the Fair, King of France,
set about to obtain control of the
Knights Templars. They had been
accountable only to the Church. To
prevent a rise in the power of the
Church, and to increase his own wealth,
Philip set out to take over the Knights.
The year 1307 saw the beginning of the
persecution of the Knights. Jacques
DeMolay, along with hundreds of others,
were seized and thrown into dungeons.
For seven years, DeMolay and the Knights
suffered torture and inhuman conditions.
While the Knights did not end, Philip
managed to force Pope Clement to condemn
the Templars. Their wealth and property
were confiscated and given to Philip's
supporters.
During years of torture, Jacques DeMolay
continued to be loyal to his friends and
Knights. He refused to disclose the
location of the funds of the Order and
he refused to betray his comrades. On
March 18, 1314, DeMolay was tried by a
special court. As evidence, the court
depended on a forged confession,
allegedly signed by DeMolay.
Jacques DeMolay disavowed the forged
confession. Under the laws of the time,
the disavowal of a confession was
punishable by death. Another Knight, Guy
of Auvergne, likewise disavowed his
confession and stood with Jacques
DeMolay.
King Philip ordered them both to be
burned at the stake that day, and thus
the story of Jacques DeMolay became a
testimonial to loyalty and friendship.
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