Did the Knights Templar name get tarnished from false accusations?

Answer 1

Most likely. Their story is long and complicated and they were greatly respected. Because of the wealth they accumulated they began a kind of banking system (which eventually became the foundation for the Swiss banking system, which is another story) and the French king, Philip IV (whose nickname "the Fair" referred to his looks and not his sense of justice) borrowed huge amounts of money from them.

In order to avoid paying his debts, he destroyed the order, primarily by accusations that they practised sodomy, Satanic rituals and other claims. Many of them were tortured and killed, usually by being burned alive. Most of them escaped, fleeing to England, Scotland, what is now Switzerland, and who knows where else. There is no proof that they were guilty of anything they were accused of but we can never know for sure.

So the short answer to your question is probably "yes."

Answer 2

Some would say so. I think that it is clear that the Templars didn't behave terribly holy(ish) but some of the accusations are simply stupid (spitting on the cross, defecating on the holy sacrament). MAYBE, there were some Templars that did commit some lawless acts, but most certainly not all of them, not even enough of them as to destroy the order if they were emprisoned or executed. Most probably they were tarnished, as u say, with false accusations, because they yielded masive economic power, and one of theur chief accusators was also one of their biggets client when in came to borrowing money, Filip the Fair, King of France ( isn't that a stranhe coincidence /:) ). Also, the fact that the arrests and executions were carried out throughout Europe, might sugget that this was a really wide plot.
Also, if u believe in such things, Jaquesde Molay, the last grand master, cursed the Pope and the King of France. because they accused him unjustly. Within an year, both the king and the pope were died :I !

Answer 3

I think the no tarnish crowd have many great answers. However, there could be no place for Phillip to besmirch them if there was not a basis for the allegations.

In case of point, I would point to the general ill reports of the Templars which followed Them Home from the 3rd and 4th Crusades, where they are reported as having done many despicable things for money and for shear pleasure.

Now, I realize many of these accounts come from opposition orders, like the knights of St John the Hospitaler, but even if 10% are true you have a problem.

I would submit that Phillip used such reports of bad eggs as an excuse to bring down rivals, not because they were all truly bad men.

Answer 4

Yes, the king owed them a lot of money and saw a way to get out of the debt. He had them all charged as heretics and executed.Most were as they refused to confess and repent .They had done nothing wrong. A few managed to escape, it is believed, and today are known as Masons. That is the rumor anyway, the symbols of both are identical , as well as many other convincing factors.They do a special on the History channel it's interesting you should check their schedule for it...

Answer 5

yeah, most of the stuff was made up, and Philip IV (the fair) made it up so that he, (who was broke because his father spent a lot of money in wars) could take the templars wealth for himself. He never got any of it because they hid it.
And people wouldn't associate themselves with them because they didn't want to get in any trouble or anything because they knew the king was after them, then they just faded into obscurity.

Answer 6

First off, it's highly subjective. I suggest that every one knew then and now that Philip IV and his people made up the charges to destroy a force that was getting more powerful than the king. So: No tarnishing.

Answer 7

yes