On that fateful morning, the French king's soldiers swiftly moved to arrest members of the Knights Templar, a powerful and wealthy religious military order founded in the 12th century. The crackdown was meticulously planned by King Philip IV, also known as Philip the Fair, who had significant financial burdens and sought to claim the Templars' assets to alleviate his debts. Since the Templars held considerable wealth from their involvement in the Crusades and land acquisitions across Christendom, they became a convenient target for the king's ambitions. The arrests occurred in various locations, marking one of the largest legal persecutions against a single group in medieval Europe.

Following their arrests, many Templars were subjected to severe torture in an attempt to extract confessions of heresy, idol worship, and other serious transgressions. Under extreme duress, several knights confessed to crimes they did not commit, which facilitated the king's agenda of justifying their persecution. The confessions created a narrative that painted the Templars as a corrupt and treacherous organization in the eyes of both the court and the public, drastically transforming the order's reputation and influence across Europe. By demolishing their structure and leadership, Philip IV effectively dismantled a power that had traditionally challenged royal authority.

In subsequent trials, these coerced confessions were used against the Templars, leading to many executions and the eventual dissolution of their order by Pope Clement V in 1312. The events surrounding the arrests and trials became a significant part of Templar lore, leading to countless myths and speculations about secret rituals and hidden treasures. Ultimately, the downfall of the Knights Templar marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of power, religion, and politics in medieval Europe, setting a precedent for state control over religious institutions.