Arrest order of Templars who were in France

The loss of the Holy Land shook the Templars prestige and increased animosity against the Order, especially due to the luxury and abundance of some Templars, in contradiction to the vows of poverty.

On October 13, 1307, Philip IV, King of France, ordered the arrest of all the Knights Templar who were in France, accusing them of heresy, fraud, and corruption. Simultaneously, he sent letters to the monarchs of Portugal, Spain and England asking them to do the same, but they all refused.

In this context, in France, the Templars were arrested, namely the Grand Master Jacques de Molay, and handed over to the Grand Inquisitor. There followed 7 years of interrogations and torture, which led to the death of many of the Knights.