Robert de Craon or Robert Burgundio (died 13 January 1147) was the second

Grand Master of the Knights Templar The grand master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the holy order, starting with founder Hugues de Payens in 1118. Some held the office for life while others resigned life in monasteries or diplomacy. Grand masters often led ...

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 1147 and was succeeded by

Everard des Barres Everard des Barres (also Eberhard von Barres or Eberhard De Bären) (died c.1176) was the third Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1147 to 1152. Everard was Master of the Templars in France and accompanied Louis VII of France on the Second ...

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, and in 1136, after the death of Hughes, he was chosen as the new Grand Master. He proved to be a brilliant organizer and legislator, and turned the Order into a major force in the

Crusader state The Crusader States, also known as Outremer, were four Catholic realms in the Middle East that lasted from 1098 to 1291. These feudal polities were created by the Latin Catholic leaders of the First Crusade through conquest and political in ...

s. On March 29, 1139, Pope Innocent II issued the

bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...

'' 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 The Council of Acre met at Palmarea, near Akko, Acre, a major city of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, on 24 June 1148. The Haute Cour of Jerusalem met with recently arrived crusaders from Europe, to decide on the best target for the crusade. The ...

during the Second Crusade on 24 June 1148. Robert died on 13 January 1149, and was succeeded by

in April that year.

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* * * * {{s-end Craon family 1147 deaths Grand Masters of the Knights Templar Christians of the Second Crusade 12th-century French people Year of birth unknown