Heard an interesting story, or theory related to pirates, or piracy? post it




Piracy and Pirates seemed to have arrived on the European scene suddenly. Their sudden appearance, seemingly soon after 1315 has lead some to suggest a connection exists. The story runs as follows:

In the tenth century, the Knights Templar were an order of Crusading knights. They occupied Jerusalem, and became massively wealthy. The French king grew jealous of their power and wealth, and in collusion with the Roman pope, not to be confused with the Pope D'Anjou, had the knights declared Satan worshipers. The knights Templar were rounded up all throughout Europe, and executed. The Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Templar Jacques De Molay was executed on Friday the thirteenth in the year 1315. That would be the end of the story, but some of the knights survived and hid, some even escaped with sensational wealth. The fugitive knights hid out in Masonic lodges (another hiding place for fugitive Templars). The knights, purchased ships or otherwise acquired them, and set out to run from the agents of the Pope, and hide their great wealth. These fugitive knights Templar became the first of the pirates. The Pirates hid out, when they weren't being pirates in the masonic lodges, and when they needed to sell their "wares" it was through the lodges.