Gilbert Horal

Herail Gilbert ( Gilbert Erail, † December 20, 1200 ) was from February 1193, the twelfth Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

He came from Aragon and joined the Knights Templar at a young age when. He remained in the Provinces Provence and Aragon, where he took part in the Reconquista against the Spanish Moors. No later than 1190, he headed the province of the order. 1193 after the death of Robert de Sablé, he was elected Grand Master.

Gilbert promoted peace between Christians and Muslims in Outremer, by concluding diplomatic agreement with the Egyptian Sultan al - Adil I.. Some did not agree with this policy and accused him of treason.

1196 escalated tensions between the Templars and Hospitallers in a dispute over the ownership of a small castle near Margat who snatched the Templars a vassal of the Hospitallers violent and unlawful. Only the mediation of Pope Innocent III. the dispute was settled and returned to the castle.

Gilbert also took care of the consolidation of the possessions of the Order in France and Puglia.

In Spain, the Templars took an active part in the Spanish Reconquista and received in 1196 by King Alfonso II of Aragon few possessions to their office in Alfambra as a reward for their battle successes.