Bertrand de Blanquefort

Bertrand de Blanchefort , known as also Bertrand of Blanquefort, was Master of the Ordre of the Temple of October 1156 with the January 2nd 1169. It is originating in Guyenne and the pope Clément V, who well later will prohibit the Ordre of the Temple, is related with his family. He is described by the chronicler Guillaume de Tyr, however not very suspect of kindness towards the Templiers, like a man " monk and filled of the fear of Dieu". He is also represented like a great man of war to the sure judgment and an extreme probity.

He succeeds quickly André de Montbard, the death of his predecessor being surely awaited because of his great age. He is quickly made prisoner the June 19th 1157 on the edges of the the Jordan to the place known as the Ford of Jacob , (battles of the lake Méron) with more than 80 templiers by Nur AD-DIN the principal sovereign of Syria. Its ransom, paid by Manual Ier Comnène the Byzantine emperor, enables him to be released with more than 6000 prisoners two or three years later.

It accompanies Amaury Ier by Jerusalem in its forwarding in Egypt but returns precipitately to counter with the head of its templiers and crusaders come from Europe (among which Guy de Lusignan) Nur-Al-DIN which, benefitting from the absence of Amaury, tackles the areas of Antioche and Tripoli. After a first victory, Bertrand de Blanquefort is overcome with the Bataille of Harenc (1165), or more than 60 templiers are killed.

The relations with Amaury degrade when this one made hang for " lâcheté" 12 templiers who gave to Nur-Al-DIN the fortress of which they had the guard. Also in 1167 Bertrand de Blanquefort refuses to support Amaury I^er which wishes to annex Egypt. It specifies that would be to break the treaty negotiated a few months before by the templier Geoffroy de Foulcher and that this intervention will resolder the Moslems. Forwarding turns indeed to the disaster but Bertrand de Blanquefort does not see it because he dies the January 2nd 1169 according to the obituaire of Rheims .

He introduced, in the rule, the reform of the “withdrawals” and obtained from the pope Alexandre III, for the Masters of the order, the right to henceforth carry the title of “Master by the grace of God” and to hold a stick of command, Abacus. Philippe de Milly succeeds to him.

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