Ancient history

The Templar trial

And above all, because he could not bear the enormous power represented by the Templars, holders of considerable movable and immovable property, Philippe le Bel surrendered in 1307 to the arguments of Guillaume de Nogaret, who devoted a fierce hatred to the order. .

The Templars were arrested on October 13, their property seized. Most confess immediately, following the example of their great master Jacques de Molay, whatever one wants them to confess, accepting accusations of debauchery, immorality or heresy. Clement V sent a letter of protest to the king on October 27, but ordered the arrest of all the Templars in Europe the following month.

At the end of the year, Philippe agrees to hand over the prisoners to the pope, but is careful not to comply. Changing his attitude, the pope orders at the beginning of 1308 to suspend the procedure, and declares that the affair will have to be evoked before him. Threatened by the king and Nogaret, Clement submits.
To keep up appearances, the prisoners will be handed over to the pope, who will immediately hand them over to the king's officers. Questioned by diocesan bishops and inquisitors, the Templars continue to confess.

The grand master and the dignitaries must appear before the pope, a council being planned, in 1310, to settle the fate of the order. After the second trial of the Templars, a first group of accused went to the stake in 1309.
Others would follow. A number of Templars, however, reconsidered their confessions, from 1310. The order was suppressed by Clement V on April 3, 1312 and, on March 18, 1314, the Grand Master and four dignitaries were in turn led to the stake, to be recanted on their confessions. Before dying, Molay would have predicted the near end of Clément and Philippe.

After the dark affair of the Templars, a drama, which personally affected the king, and the monarchical prestige, further darkened the last months of the reign. Accused of adultery with the Aulnay brothers, her daughters-in-law, Jeanne, Marguerite and Blanche, appear before the royal judges. The Aulnay brothers perish in atrocious suffering, Marguerite and Blanche are imprisoned, only Jeanne manages to clear herself.


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