Hugh de Pairaud

Hugh de Pairaud was one of the first Templars to confess after the order to seize and torture members was sent out.1 He was quite high up the Templar hierarchy, second only to Grand Master Jacques de Molay, making his confession very valuable to King Philip IV and Pope Clement V. After his confession, Hugh de Pairaud was charged with many offences and was tortured brutally for any further confessions.2

It is said that Hugh knew of the entire plot from both sides the entire time (Pope Clement V and King Philip IV, imagery of them together below). It is said that he knew not because of a leak of information, but because pope Clement V told him personally. Pope Clement V wanted James de Molay to get arrested and to have him replaced by Hugh de Pairaud.3

Pope Clement and King Philip face the Templars.6

Hugh de Pairaud showed his humanity by telling less involved new member to “get out while you can”. This because he knew what was coming. There is physical primary evidence that supports this narrative.4

Hugh de Pairaud was the second highest official which explains how involved he was in the Templars and how much the fall of the Templars effected him, besides dying. In addition, the fact that it was his father that initiated him into the Templars and the Templars have been apart of his life all his life dating pack to his father helps give a glimpse into his potential feelings at the time5

  1. Malcolm Barber, The Trial of the Templars, (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2012), 63.
  2. Ibid, 151.
  3. Robert Ferguson, The Knights Templar and Scotland, (Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2013), 95.
  4. lbid, 98.
  5. Gordon Napier, A to Z of the Knights Templar: A Guide to Their History and Legacy. (Stroud, Gloucestershire: History Press, 2008), 56.
  6. Maître de Boucicaut XV, Clément V et Philippe le Bel face aux Templiers, Bibliothèque nationale de France. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maître_de_Boucicaut_Clément_V_et_Philippe_le_Bel.jpg.