Robert de Craon explained

Robert de Craon
Office1:2nd Grand Master of the Knights Templar
Term Start1:1136
Term End1:1149
Predecessor1:Hugues de Payens
Successor1:Everard des Barres
Birth Date:Unknown
Death Date:13 January 1149
Nationality:French
Allegiance: Knights Templar
Battles:Second Crusade

Robert de Craon or Robert Burgundio (died 13 January 1149) was the second Grand Master of the Knights Templar from June 1136 until his death. He was instrumental in getting papal sanction for the Templar Order, making it independent from ecclesiastical and secular authorities. Robert negotiated the expansion of the Order into the Iberian peninsula with the acquisition of castles and territory. He died on 13 January 1149 and was succeeded by Everard des Barres.

Life

Robert was the son of Renaud le Bourguignon and Ennoguen de Vitré. He was engaged to the daughter of the lord of Angoumois, but gave up his wedding and travelled to Palestine after learning of the foundation of the Templar Order by Hughes de Payens. He soon showed his military valour and his piety. By 1136, he was the seneschal of the order, and after the death of Hughes he was chosen as the new Grand Master.[1] He proved to be a brilliant organizer and legislator, and turned the Order into a major force in the Crusader states. On March 29, 1139, Pope Innocent II issued the bull Omne Datum Optimum, which exempted the order from tithes and made them independent of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Templars were also granted the habit of a red cross over a white tunic.

In 1143, Robert and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona negotiated the donation of six castles and dependent enclaves consisting of Monzon, Mongay, Chalamera, Barbara, Belchite, and Remolins. He participated in the Council of Acre during the Second Crusade on 24 June 1148 and supported the decision to attack Damascus.[2] Robert died on 13 January 1149, and was succeeded by Everard des Barres in April that year.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones, Dan . Dan Jones (writer) . 2017 . The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors . New York . . 55–56 . 978-0-525-42830-5.
  2. Book: Jones, Dan . Dan Jones (writer) . 2017 . The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors . New York . . 88, 92 . 978-0-525-42830-5.