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.
Copyright: 1999-2000, Christopher D'Allaird
Revised- January 25, 2000
URL: http://home.nycap.rr.com/unclesamdemolay/jacqueshistory.html