Godfrey de Saint-Omer

Godfrey of Saint- Omer (also Godefridus de Sancto Andemardo, Gaufred, Godefroi ) was a Flemish knight and a founding member of the Knights Templar.

Life

Godfrey of Saint- Omer was next to Hugh of Payns a founding member of the Knights Templar in the Holy Land in 1118, where he soon took a leading position. According to some sources he was the deputy of the first Grand Master, Hugues de Payens, but it is also called a Gottfried Bisol as his deputy.

Gottfried could be a member of the noble lords of Saint- Omer. William of Saint- Omer and his son Hugo attended as a vassal of Count Robert II of Flanders in the First Crusade ( 1096-1099 ). Hugh of Saint- Omer is later considered one of the best knights in the Kingdom of Jerusalem mentioned (First Battle of Ramla in 1101 ) and was seneschal of Jerusalem from 1100 and from 1101 Prince of Tiberias.

According to the family chronology Gottfried Hugo could his brother; in other places it is claimed that he was Hugh of Saint- Omer was the Son. Among the names of the Crusaders there is also a Gauthier de Saint- Omer, which could indicate a write or transmission errors Gottfried ( Gaufred ) ( Gauthier de Saint- Omer was not born yet at that time).

Probably came Gottfried 1099 as part of the First Crusade in the retinue of William I. and Hugh of Saint- Omer to Jerusalem.

Godfrey of Saint- Omer is to become of grief over the loss of his wife Crusaders. His son later took over diplomatic missions on behalf of the Knights Templar.

Before 1128, he traveled to Flanders. There he sold his possessions in the area of Ypres and donated the proceeds to the Order. Several houses he owned in Ypres, were rededicated at his instigation in monasteries and churches.