Friday the 13th’s reputation as an unlucky day stems from a tragic event in 1307, when King Philip IV of France, in league with Pope Clement V, ordered the arrest and execution of thousands of Knights Templar, a powerful and wealthy Christian military order.

The Templars were subjected to brutal torture, forced confessions, and eventually, execution by burning at the stake. This tragic event marked the beginning of the end for the Knights Templar, and its dark legacy has been linked to Friday the 13th’s reputation for bad luck.