Robert de Craon

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Grandmaster coat of arms Roberts de Craons

Robert de Craon (also: Robert the Burgundy , Latin: Robertus de Burgundio , French: Le Bourguignon ) († January 13, 1147 ) was the second Grand Master of the Templar Order (1136 / 37–1147) and followed Hugues de Payns in his office .

Life

Robert de Craon is first mentioned in 1093. He was the third of Rainald's four sons, Herr von Craon , and a great-great-grandson of the Capetian King Hugo Capet . In this respect he belonged to the high nobility and was called "The Burgundy". His mother was Domitia von Vitré.

At a young age he frequented the court of the Counts of Angoulême and later entered the service of the Duke of Aquitaine . Allegedly in a dispute with a rival over the hand of the rich heiress of Confolens and Chabannes, he traveled to Palestine to join the Knights Templar there in 1126 .

In 1132 and 1136 he stayed in Europe as Seneschal of the Order. During this time he mainly took care of Spanish affairs. When he learned of the death of Grand Master Hugo von Payns in 1136 , he traveled back to Palestine, where he was elected his successor.

That year the Seljuks attacked the city ​​of Tekoa on the Dead Sea. The Templars, led by Robert, successfully defended the city. Chasing after the fleeing Turks, they were caught in a tactical ambush in which many of them were killed, including Otto von Montfaucon and the standard bearer Bernhard Vacher . Robert allowed the Templars in Spain to launch a sea attack with around 70 ships against the Moorish city ​​of Lisbon , which was repulsed.

In 1139 he received the bull " Omne datum optimum " from Pope Innocent II , which was the summary of the privileges for the order.

In 1140 the power of the Grand Master was considerably restricted, so that only with the consent of the Convention could land be sold, orders of the Convention changed, wars started and armistices concluded.

literature

  • Alain Demurger, Wolfgang Kaiser (Ed.): The Templars. Rise and Fall 1120–1314. CH Beck, Munich 2004, ISBN 978-3-406-52367-0 .
predecessor Office successor
Hugues de Payns Grand Master of the Knights Templar
1136–1147 		Everard des Barres
personal data
SURNAME Robert de Craon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Robert the Burgundy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Grand Master of the Templar Order
DATE OF BIRTH 11th century
DATE OF DEATH January 13, 1147