Jacques DeMolay, the figurehead of the DeMolay Order, was born in France in 1244. At the age of 21, he joined the Knights Templar, an order established in 1118 by nine knights who vowed to protect Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, conquered in the first crusade.
The Templars were renowned as fierce warriors, known for charging into battle on war-horses against daunting odds, quickly gaining a reputation for bravery and heroism. Endorsed by the Catholic Church and attracting sons of nobility and princes, the Order amassed considerable wealth and fame across Europe.
Possessing around 9,000 estates and significant wealth, stored in their Paris and London temples, the Templars became trusted bankers for princes and private individuals. Even the French Royal Family stored their treasures in the Paris Temple.
In 1298, DeMolay ascended to the prestigious position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar. However, this role was fraught with challenges. European monarchs and the Church saw the Templars as less relevant after losing the Holy Lands. Philip IV of France, indebted to the Order and covetous of their wealth, aimed to usurp the Knights' power.
The infamous Friday the 13th in October 1307 marked the beginning of the end for the Templars. Philip, with the complicity of Pope Clement V, launched a brutal campaign against the Order across Europe, marked by false charges, arrests, torture, and executions. Lacking solid evidence, confessions were extracted through severe torture.
Many Templars confessed to crimes only after enduring such extreme torture that it led to the death of some. While France confiscated the Templar wealth, distributing it among Philip's allies, other European regions acquitted them, allowing them to merge with other orders.
For seven years, DeMolay and his fellow Knights endured torture and harsh conditions, yet he remained steadfast, never betraying his comrades or the location of Templar assets.
On March 18, 1314, DeMolay and three senior Templars were expected to publicly admit their guilt at a platform before Notre-Dame Cathedral. Instead, DeMolay and another Knight, Guy of Aubergine, retracted their forced confessions, proclaiming the Order's innocence.
King Philip immediately ordered their execution by burning at the palace gates. DeMolay's courageous demise made a profound impact, and when the Pope and King died soon after, a legend arose that DeMolay had called them to God's judgment in his final moments.
Jacques DeMolay's story thus became a symbol of unwavering loyalty and fellowship.