The origin of Friday the 13th is a topic of debate, but one theory connects it to the Knights Templar. The Knights of the Templar were a military group founded in 1118 in Jerusalem that lasted for two centuries. They were charged with protecting pilgrims along the road from Europe to Jerusalem and created a revolutionary banking system that protected pilgrims’ finances. This banking system was successful and eventually expanded throughout Europe. However, King Philip IV of France ended up owing a considerable sum to the Knights and got jealous of their success. He devised a plan to exterminate all the Knights of the Templar in a single day, which was Friday, October 13, 1307. Philip sent his plan to all the King’s men and Bailiffs throughout France a month beforehand with orders not to read the plans until dawn on Friday the 13th. The Grandmaster’s final words before being burned at the stake were used to curse King Philip IV & Pope Clement V and state that they would both be dead by the end of the year. Both men did meet their demise before the year’s end, which adds even more to the legend of Friday the 13th. However, it is important to note that this theory is not the only one, and the true origin of Friday the 13th remains unclear.