Trial against the Templars

The Vatican Secret Archive is a centuries-old guardian of the world's largest documentary heritage, which comprises 35,000+ volumes dating back to the 8th century. Its name is somewhat inaccurate: Archivum Secretum Vaticanum more accurately translates as the “Private Vatican Library” – is private in the sense that it is the personal, private possession of the Pope, although contemporary records are kept classified. These are primarily diplomatic documents, ranging from state papers and official documents, to correspondence and account books. A series of documents stored under the shelf marks ASV A.A. Arm. 208, 209, 210 and 217 deal with one of the most infamous and mysterious events in history: the trial of the Knights Templar, which began in 1307 and lasted until 1314.

Medieval Court Records

The first three documents (208, 209, 210) are the surviving specimens of an original corpus of 5 parchment rolls, including the confessions of seventy-two knights questioned by Pope Clement V (ca. 1264–1314) between June 28th and July 2nd, 1308. The fourth parchment (217) records the final acquittal granted to Grand Master Jacques de Molay (ca. 1243–1314) and to other high dignitaries of the Order, even if it did not save them from being burnt at the stake by King Philip IV of France (1268–1314), who had instigated the conspiracy against the Templars in order to wipe his extensive debts to them clean while seizing much of their property. A final document is included, listed in the Reg. Aven. 48 of Pope Benedict XII (1285–1342), which recorded the personal observations of representatives of the Holy See summarizing the depositions of various Templars.