The Origins of Friday the 13th Being Unlucky

Sometime shortly after the First Crusade, folks decided that the ensuing wave of pilgrims to the Holy Land needed some protection (ya think?) from unfriendlies that lurked along the way. So, nine knights got together, cadged some handouts, and set to work.

Over the years, and through ensuing crusades, the order became pretty popular, not to mention powerful and rich. They issued letters of credit to travellers, which turned them into bankers and the inventors of travellers' cheques. After all, a pilgrim who carried a letter of credit could run faster than one laden down with gold.

Over the course of a couple of hundred years, the Knights Templar acquired so much money, downtown Jerusalem real estate, and tough knights, that the rulers of Europe became a tad bit afraid of them. They owned vast tracts of Europe, including the island of Cyprus, and maintained their own fleet of ships.

Philip (The Fair) of France needed some francs one day, and decided that he didn't want to get them the old-fashioned way--borrowing from the Templars, so he tried to coerce Jacques deMolay, Templar Grand Master, into giving him some. That gave Jacques a huge chuckle.

However, the king got the last laugh, and, 699 years ago today, had all the Knights Templar rounded up simultaneously (obviously a genius at organization). They were eventually burned at the stake, accused of everything in the book.

Which is why we think Friday the 13th is unlucky.

It sure was for the Templars!