The origins of superstitions can be elusive, often shrouded in myth and speculation. One such superstition is Friday the 13th, a date feared by many for its association with bad luck. While numerous theories exist about its origins, one popularized by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code links the superstition to the Knights Templar, a medieval order of knights. But is there any truth to this connection?
The Templar Arrests on Friday the 13th
In The Da Vinci Code, readers learn that members of the Knights Templar—a powerful medieval order—were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307. This date has since been suggested as the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition. However, while the arrests did indeed take place on that date, historians agree that this is not the true origin of the superstition.
The current leading theory suggests that Friday the 13th wasn’t associated with bad luck until the 20th century. In 1907, a novel titled Friday, the Thirteenth was published, which may have played a significant role in cementing the date's association with misfortune. According to author Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, before this novel, “13” had long been considered an unlucky number, and “Friday” an unlucky day, but the two weren’t necessarily linked.
The Knights Templar: Separating Fact from Fiction
Much like the Friday the 13th superstition, many of the myths surrounding the Knights Templar are modern inventions. Helen Nicholson, a medieval history professor at Cardiff University, describes the Templars as “extremely boring Roman Catholics” who lived far less sensational lives than popular culture suggests.
Formed around 1119, the Knights Templar was a religious order of unmarried men tasked with defending the Kingdom of Jerusalem and protecting Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Over time, the order accumulated significant wealth and power, becoming influential financiers across Europe. This made them a target for the French King Philip IV, who, running low on funds, accused them of heresy on Friday, October 13, 1307.
It’s important to note that it was King Philip IV, not Pope Clement V, who accused the Templars of heresy. The Pope eventually disbanded the order, not because he believed in their guilt, but because the accusations had tarnished the order’s reputation beyond repair.
Conspiracy Theories and the Templars
The abrupt and unceremonious end of the Knights Templar has fueled countless conspiracy theories. According to Nicholson, “the quick, anticlimactic end to the Knights Templar doesn’t fit into the sort of narrative humans like.” As a result, people have speculated that the Templars were involved in secretive activities that led to their downfall.
One persistent myth is that the Templars were created by a shadowy organization called the Priory of Sion to uncover secrets about the bloodline of Christ. Other theories claim the Templars discovered hidden treasures, the Holy Grail, or heretical secrets such as Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene or not rising from the dead.
After the Templars were disbanded, some legends suggested they became the Freemasons—a rumor that was actually started by some Freemasons themselves. This false connection was promoted by early Masonic groups in the 18th century, but many of the more sensational conspiracies only gained traction in the late 20th century, particularly after the publication of the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail in the 1980s. This book sparked widespread interest in Templar myths, further popularized by the Internet in the 1990s and The Da Vinci Code.
The Dangers of Historical Myths
While the idea of the Knights Templar as protectors of ancient secrets is undeniably more thrilling, it distorts the real history. Nicholson cautions that “when you tell lies about history, you give people a false idea of how humans really behave, and how we got where we are now.”
The true story of the Knights Templar is one of political intrigue, greed, and false accusations. King Philip IV, motivated by financial desperation, orchestrated their downfall by accusing them of heresy. The Knights were far from the secretive guardians of hidden knowledge that many myths suggest; they were powerful but ultimately vulnerable to the whims of a king in need of cash.
By understanding the real history behind the Templars and the superstition of Friday the 13th, we can better appreciate the complexities of the past and the ways in which modern myths can obscure the truth.