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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.
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With many nobles and princes sending their sons to join the
Knights Templar, the Order also became very wealthy and
popular throughout Europe. |
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The Templars had grown rich and powerful that it possessed
7,500 manors in many lands, became a super state, before the
power of which even the king might be compelled to humble
himself .
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| 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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| It was such
splendor and power as this attracted young Philip IV the
fair, when at 18 years of age became ruler of France. |
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| 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. |
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| On September
14, 1307, he issued writs in all provinces ordering them to
arrest every Templar. At dawn of October 13, the Knights
were suddenly everywhere in France, taken into custody. The
Knights were thrown into damp cells and cold dungeons where
many died from torture, many of them confessed guilt to
escape the rack. Sixty seven were burned at stake. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| In 1314,
DeMolay was brought before an inquisition to determine his
fate. Since the Order was religious in its constitution, it
was the church that must give trial. He denied the charges
brought against his Order, that it was perjured, forged and
false. This was a declaration of innocence. Years in prison
dragged away until DeMolay was again brought to trial for
the last time. He was paraded on the street to a platform at
the town plaza. the Grand Master recanted his confession: |
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| Before Heaven
and earth and with all of you here as my witness, I admit
that I am guilty of the grossest iniquity. But the iniquity
is that I have lied admitting the disgusting charges laid
against the Order. I declare and I must declare that the
Order is innocent, its purity is beyond question." |
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| 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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(An excerpt from
www.demolay.org) |
