By the bloody fall of Acre in 1291, the Knights Templar had amassed a fortune rivaling the kings of Europe. Their castles, wealth, and military prowess were in notorious contrast to their humble origins. On Friday, October 13th, 1307, Philip had all of the Templars arrested in one surprising blow throughout all the domains of France. Lamenting "a thing terrible to contemplate, horrible to hear," Phillip charged the Templars with heinous heresy, blasphemy, and homosexuality. After years of imprisonment and severe torture, many of the French Templars confessed to these crimes. Because their...