The Knights Templar on Trial: The Trial of the Templars in the British Isles, 1308-1311

The loss of Acre in 1291 marked the beginning of the end of the Templars. They returned to Europe a far weaker organization. They were however, still well regarded so it came as a great shock when the Templar Brothers of France were arrested in 1307 on the orders of King Phillip IV. Other Christian monarchs followed the lead and the trial of the Templars in Britain began. This study covers the period between the start of the trials in early 1308 and the dissolution of the order in July 1311. The trials took a different course in England from those in mainland Europe with Edward II reluctant to obey the instructions of the papal investigators. The Templars did not confess to anything and the nobles and bishops did not cooperate with the investigators. Eventually in 1311 the church councils rejected all heresies and the Templars asked to be readmitted to the church. 

The loss of Acre in 1291 marked the beginning of the end of the Templars. They returned to Europe a far weaker organization. They were however, still well regarded so it came as a great shock when the Templar Brothers of France were arrested in 1307 on the orders of King Phillip IV. Other Christian monarchs followed the lead and the trial of the Templars in Britain began. This study covers the period between the start of the trials in early 1308 and the dissolution of the order in July 1311. The trials took a different course in England from those in mainland Europe with Edward II reluctant to obey the instructions of the papal investigators. The Templars did not confess to anything and the nobles and bishops did not cooperate with the investigators. Eventually in 1311 the church councils rejected all heresies and the Templars asked to be readmitted to the church.

Helen Nicholson is the author of God's Warriors, Knight Templar 1120–1312, and The Knights Templar: A New History.