CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
This is adapted from Malcolm Barber, The Trial of the Templars.
1292 Jacques de Molay becomes Grand Master of the Templars
1305 November 14, Bernard de Got becomes Pope Clement V
1306 June, King Philip the Fair forced to restore the old value of coinage
July, Jews expelled from France and their property confiscated
Autumn, Jacques de Molay arrives in the West from Cyprus
1307 September 14, Philip sends secret orders for the arrest of the Templars
September 23, Clement writes Philip saying that he is opening an inquiry into the charges against the Templars
October 13, all Templars in France arrested and imprisoned
October 19, interrogations begin in Paris
October 24, Jacques de Molay confesses to all charges
October 25, Jacques de Molay repeats his confession for the masters of the University of Paris
October 27, Pope Clement writes to King Philip protesting the arrests
November 9, Hugh de Pairaud, Templar Visitor for France, confesses to all charges
November 22, Pope Clement issues a bull calling for the arrest of Templars in all lands
December 24, Jacques de Molay is taken before the pope’s representatives and there revokes his confession
1308 February, Pope Clement suspends the Inquisition in France
Later in February, Philip asks the masters of Paris to judge his role in the arrests
March 25, in reply to his questions, the masters of theology at the University of Paris state that King Philip did not have the right to arrest the Templars
May 4-29, Philip calls the Estates-General to Tours to justify his actions, which they do; Pope Clement leaves France and settles in the papal town of Avignon
1309 Local inquiries begin, overseen by the bishops
August 8, in Paris, the papal commission opens inquiry on the order (as opposed to individual Templars)
November 22, the first hearings of the papal commissions begin
November 26, Jacques de Molay appears before the commission November 28, Jacques de Molay again appears before the commission; the commission goes on Christmas break
1310 February 3, papal commissio n again in session
March 2, Jacques de Molay appears once again; he insists that only the pope can judge him
March 14, 127 accusations read to Templars who wish to defend the order
March 28, nearly six hunderd Templars meet in Paris to defend the order
April 7, Peter of Bologna and Reginald of Provins, as spokesmen, give the defense of the order
May 12, the archbishop of Sens turns over fifty-four Templars to be burned at the stake for retracting their confessions; the defenders scatter
May 28, Peter of Bologna disappears
May 30, the papal commission decides to take an early summer holiday
November 3, papal commission reconvenes
1311 May 26, papal commission hears the final deposition
June 5, papal commission adjourns for the last time
October 11, Council of Vienne opens
Late October, seven Templars ask to be allowed to defend the order
1312 March 20, Philip the Fair and his army arrive in Vienne
March 22, Clement V reads out the bull Vox in excelso, which dissolves the order; the bull Ad providam transfers all of its property to the Hospitallers
1314 March 18, Jacques de Molay and Geoffrey of Charney assert their innocence once again and are immediately sent to burn at the stake in Paris
April 15, Guillaume de Nogaret dies
April 20, Pope Clement V dies
November 29, King Philip IV dies