Eudes de Saint-Amand

Eudes (Odon) of Saint-Amand is the 8th Master of the Ordre of the Temple.

It is originating in a noble family of the the Limousin but undoubtedly arrived rather young person in Palestine because when it arrives at the head of the templiers it already has behind him a military career filled well since it occupied the load of marshal of the kingdom and of Viscount of Jerusalem. He becomes templier on an unknown date and succeeds transitory the Philippe de Milly with the head of the Ordre of the Temple towards 1171. He is famous for his sagacity and his courage but is described thus by the chronicler (and bishop) Guillaume de Tyr: “ Man malicious, superb, arrogant, breathing only the fury, without fear of God and regard for the men… He died of misery, without carrying the regrets of anybody . ”

Hardly elected official it opposes to the king Amaury Ier of Jerusalem while refusing to deliver to the justice of the king Gantier of Mesnil, a guilty templier of the murder of an emissary of the Vieux of the Mountain. The confrontation between the two men does not take place because of died of the king, replaced by the young person and sick Baudouin IV of Jerusalem, then of that of Nur-Al-DIN, the Atabeg of Alep, has which succeeds Saladin. In 1177, this last launches a raid on the neighborhoods of Ascalon with approximately 20.000 men. At once Baudouin IV advances with his meeting with hardly 3.000 infantrymen and 375 knights including 80 templiers led by their chief. Those charge with the avant-garde and hustle the first lines of the Ayyoubide sultan.

“ the exterminating angel seemed to follow them in the fray ”

This battles of Ascalon (November 18th 1177) is a broad victory of the Christians gained partly by the ardor and the fury of the load of the templiers. The following year however, whereas the army builds a fort on the the Jordan it is surprised by Saladin (Bataille of the Ford of Jacob). Whereas the knights relax only the templiers resist, as well as the hospital , and all are killed except for Eudes de Saint-Amand. The sultan wishes to exchange it against one of his nephews prisoner of the Order but the Master refuses who answers: “ I do not want to authorize for my example the cowardice of my monks who would let themselves take in the hope to be repurchased. A templier must overcome or die, and can give for its ransom only its dagger and its belt .”

Taken along in captivity he dies in Damas the October 9th 1179.

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