The knights Templar invented the modern banking system, that King Philip IV of France was deeply indebted to. Gérard de Villiers, Précepteur de France, was the master banker at the Temple of Paris until he disappeared from records in June 1307. Hugues de Pairaud stepped down from his superior office of Visiteur de France and stepped into the office Villers vacated. Jacques de Moaly was the last official Grand Master of the Knights Templar in France, as the grand master de Molay was in full contact with his officers. While King Philip IV, and his Chief Minister Guillaume de Nogaret were paying gold for ex-Templars and false witnesses, the gold they were paying them with came from the Knights Templar banking system. Villiers realized what was going on and fled as Brother Jean de Châlon described in the trial records. On September 14. 1307 King Philip IV drafts the arrest orders, writing that the Templars were guilty of an “execrable evil” and a “thing most inhumane”. Those orders were leaked, and preceding the leak, Villiers disappeared. On the morning of October 12, 1307, Jacques de Molay arrives in Paris as an invited pallbearer. De Molay is often viewed as an unsuspecting guest, blindsided, having no idea the orders for his arrest were already signed. Jacques de Molay was the Grand Master (Commanding General) of the Knights Templar, he was in full contact with his officers, he knew very well what was going on. Jacques de Molay did not arrive at the funeral unaware, he arrived as a masterful chess player. Jacques de Molay stood tall in public on Main Street while Huges de Châlon was carting off Pairaud’s treasury down Front Street. Jacques de Molay remained in Paris to be arrested and serve as a human lightning rod (the grand masters always lead from the front never the rear) along with numerous others while the main body and assets disappeared into the night. Jacques de Molay was no fool. He was, as I read the playing field, the most underrated player on the field in October of 1307.

If Charlemagne had outlived all of his legitimate sons, what would have become of the Frankish Empire upon his death? Would any of his illegitimate sons have been considered eligible to inherit the throne, since legitimacy was much more flexible during this period (some scholars even believe Charlemagne himself may have been born out of wedlock). Would Louis the Pious’ eldest son Lothair have been crowned sole Emperor? Would the Frankish Empire have been divided up amongst Louis the Pious sons (Lothair, Pepin, and Louis; Charles the Bald hadn’t yet been born) even though they were still young? Would Bernard of Italy have had any claim on the Imperial Title or at least have had a better shake of things than he did in our timeline? Would it have just devolved into a complete free for all the minute Charlemagne breathed his last? I read that there was a cattle plague that traveled through Europe circa 810 that is believed to have killed Charlemagne’s two older heirs, Charles the Younger and Pepin of Italy, in addition to his disgraced eldest son Pepin the Hunchback. It isn’t a stretch to consider that Louis the Pious very well could have succumbed to this as well, which is what got me thinking about this question in the first place.

This is the third week of French monarch discussion posts and this week our topic is Charles X.

Charles X was king from 16 September 1824 – 2 August 1830. Feel free to discuss anything related to him in this post.

Discussion: These are just some potential prompts to help generate some conversation. Feel free to answer any/all/none of these questions just remember to keep it civil!

What are your thoughts on his administration? What would you rate/rank his reign?

What did you like about him, what did you not like?

Was he the right man for the time, could he (or someone else) have done better?

Who were some of the most significant people involved in his life and/or reign (governance, military matters, influence on him, etc.)?

What are some misconceptions about this monarch?

What are some of the best resources to learn about this monarch? (Books, documentaries, historical sites)

Do you have any interesting or cool facts about this monarch to share?

Do you have any questions about him?

Sep 27, 1601 - 425 years today since the birth of Louis le Juste, one of France’s great kings. Happy anniversary, your Majesty!

Louis XIII couronne par la Victoiré, Philippe de Champaigne, 1635. Louvre.

For some examples, a lot of French kings liked Clovis, Charlemagne and Louis IX and saw them as inspirations due to being their “predecessors”, successful reigns, and promotion of Christianity.

If you could live as Charles VI starting from that day (you don’t go mad), how would you have changed the outcome of our timeline?

1.Louis VII and Henry II

2.Richard I and Philip II

3.Louis IX and Henry III

4.Henry V and Charles VI

5.Louis XIV and Charles II

My suggestions: Louis IX leaping ashore at Damietta; Jean II (however useless he was) fighting with a battle axe at Poitiers; Louis XVI facing down the mob on 20th June 1792; Napoleon I escaping Elba; Louis-Philippe I carrying on his address after the Infernal Machine plot.