Under pressure from King Philip IV of France, Pope Clement V played a significant role in the suppression of the Knights Templar, a powerful and wealthy military religious order of knighthood. Perhaps in an attempt to gain control of the Templars’ vast wealth, Philip accused the order of heresy and pressured Clement to act against them. Clement convened the Council of Vienne (France) in 1311 to settle the issue. Although the council initially opposed the suppression, Philip forced Clement to dissolve the Templars in 1312. Clement V officially suppressed the order and transferred their property to the Hospitallers (another military order) or to secular rulers.
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