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To: Jimmy Valentine
When Philip LeBel (King of France as you know) sentenced the head of the Templars to die at the stake, from the flames the Templar cursed him as well as the Papal representative and said "I will see you before God's throne within the year"

In fact, both died within the year.

It's a little early for spooky Halloween-type stories, but that is an amazing bit of medieval European history. Grand Master Jacques de Molay really knew how to curse his enemies, and the curse was seemingly much more powerful than he'd called for. Excerpted from "The Three Edwards" by Thomas Costain:

The horrified spectators heard the voice of the Grand Master cry out from the flames: "We die innocent. The decree which condemns us is an unjust decree, but in heaven there is an august tribunal to which the weak never appeal in vain. To that tribunal I summon the Roman pontiff within 40 days."

The witnesses shuddered when the tortured voice continued: "Oh, Philip, I pardon thee in vain, for thy life is condemned. At the tribunal of God within a year, I await thee."

And the first to die not long afterward (from dysentery) was Pope Clement V, and a few months later Philip IV (the Fair) died.

But then the curse didn't stop. Under French Salic Law, only sons could inherit the throne. No problem, Philip left 3 strapping, healthy sons. His eldest son, Louis (the Quarreler), succeeded him at the age of 25 and died at 27. And Louis's postumatously born son, John, died only 4 days old.

So Louis was succeeded by his next younger brother, Philip V (the Tall), who dodged the curse for 6 years and then died at age 28, without issue.

Finally, Philip IV's 3rd and last son, Charles IV, was crowned. (He was called 'the Fair', like his father, but a better name would have been 'the Nervous'.) He reigned 6 years and managed to get himself married 3 times during that period but died leaving only daughters. And this, mein sohn, marked the end of the ancient royal house of Capet.

All the other European and English kings must have been only too glad that the dying Grand Master hadn't called their names out while he was cursing the Pope and the French King, because they also began persecuting all the Knights Templers in their realms.:)

89 posted on 05/07/2006 2:29:56 PM PDT by xJones
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To: xJones
Rats, I haven't hiccuped in a long time while posting.
90 posted on 05/07/2006 2:31:21 PM PDT by xJones
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