Guy de Blanchefort

Guy de Blanchefort , born with Wood-Lamy, commune of Moutier-Malcard (current Digs) after 1446, dead at sea the Mediterranean in 1513, was large Master of the Ordre of Hospital of Midsummer's Day of Jerusalem (1512-1513).

Shade of Pierre d' Aubusson

Second wire of Guy III of Blanchefort and Sovereign of Aubusson (younger sister by Pierre d' Aubusson, large Master of Hospital of Midsummer's Day of Jerusalem) Guy de Blanchefort will be allowed in the Order of the Hospital ones, where it will profit his life lasting from the confidence and the protection of his uncle. An inscription raised in the church Midsummer's Day de Bourganeuf, gone back to 1486, teaches us that it had been named commander of Morterolles (current Creuse) and commander of Cyprus. When his/her uncle was elected large Master of the Order (June 1476), it succeeded to him in its functions of large prior of the language of Auvergne.

In September 1482, it is in Guy de Blanchefort that Pierre d' Aubusson entrusts the heavy responsibility to lead and to take care of the good guard of Djem sultan (" Zizim ") in Europe. Lodged initially in Nice, then in the Dauphine , and perhaps with Morterolles, unhappy prince Djem will be finally claquemuré of 1486 with 1488 in the tower built with its intention with Bourganeuf on order of Blanchefort. In November 1488, it is always Guy de Blanchefort who escorts Djem in his voyage until Rome, where it will be given to the pope Innocent VIII in March of the following year.

One sometimes reduced the life of Guy de Blanchefort to that of a " geolier" blindly carrying out the orders of his/her uncle Pierre. In addition to the fact that the admission in the Order of Hospital implied the acceptance of triple wish of " poverty, chastity, and obedience " , it was to however appear like a valorous combatant with the head of a French squadron.

In June 1499, a Turkish fleet, ordered by the kapoudan pasha Daoud moves towards the Western coast of the Greece in order to unload an army intended there to take the control of the last cities (Modon, Coron, Navarin, both Nauplies) still escaping the domination Othoman E. The French fleet, reinforced by two or three vessels of Hospital, placed under the command of Blanchefort, joined in July the Venetian fleet in order to block the passage to the Othoman squadron. In August, the first engagements are with the advantage of Venetian and the French. During a second confrontation, on August 20th, the Turkish fleet is concealed and again tried to force the passage to enter the gulf of Patras. It is the French squadron, the first of which combat the " large caraque of Rhodos " , which goes to its meeting. The advantage belongs to the French then, but, against any waiting, instead of going ahead to complete the victory, the Venetian squadron, ordered by Grimani, the full sea gains. The kapoudan pasha Daoud, which preserves the advantage of the number in spite of its losses, can then invest the gulf of Patras. The Turkish army will unload and reduce in a few weeks the Venetian possessions. Blanchefort will not have any more but to shingle towards Rhodos.

It is to the large priory of Bourganeuf, where it remains in 1512, qu ' it learns that the chapter of the Order, joined together in Rhodos, elected it large Master to replace Emeri of Amboise, which him even had succeeded Pierre d' Aubusson. Blanchefort will die during its voyage towards Rhodos in 1513.

One can always see in Rhodos the inn of the Language of Auvergne. It preserves, with the top of the main door, the following inscription in Gothic characters: " D' Auvargne, the ĝ for, F. Guy de Blāchefort, 1507" (: " From Auvergne, the large prior, Brother Guy de Blanchefort "), indicating that on this Blanchefort date had made there carry out with its expenses of work of restoration or enlarging.

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