Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem

Heraclius of Caesarea († 1191 in Acre ) was archbishop of Caesarea and Patriarch of Jerusalem.

A native of the Auvergne and studied - as his later rival William of Tyre - right in Bologna. He came into the kingdom of Jerusalem as appointed Archbishop of Caesarea, while Wilhelm was Archbishop of Tyre. Both participated in 1179 in the Third Lateran Council. 1180 William was listed as the first candidate to succeed as Patriarch of Jerusalem, but the influence of Agnes of Edessa, the mother of King Baldwin IV, Heraclius brought into office.

Since most information about Heraclius by his rival William and his followers Ernoul originate (the latter sat William Chronicle continued ), Heraclius is often seen as particularly corrupt and as distinctly secular occupation of the Office. He is a whole series of reputed lovers, including allegedly Agnes of Edessa, but also Pasque de Riviera, lived with him and was addressed as " Madame Patriarch ". He is said to have excommunicated William in 1183, what this led them to travel to Rome to seek help from the Pope; Ernoul reports, that Heraclius had there a poison attack on Wilhelm arranged - but at least failed, if not is a false information, since William did not die before 1186.

1184 Heraclius traveled in the company of Roger de Moulins, Grand Master of the Knights, and Arnaud de Toroga, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, to Europe to seek support in solving the burning succession crisis in the kingdom. The chronicler Ralph Niger reports that his enormous entourage and its lush clothing offended the feelings of many Europeans whose feeling such a splendor not accepted: when the east was so rich, then no help from the West was certainly necessary. Heraclius gave the royal crown, both Philip II of France and Henry II of England ( and - according to Ralph Niger - every prince who crossed his path ), but all refused. He had a remarkable encounter with Henry II, in which he reminded him of his years -ago given after the murder of Thomas Becket promise to go on a crusade. In London, the Temple Church, the center of the Templars in England, consecrated by him.

Heraclius returned in 1185 returned to Jerusalem, where he supported the throne Guido of Lusignan. 1187, when Saladin's invasion, Guido told him to pull at the head of the army of the Holy Cross into battle, but Heraclius was sick and was represented by the Bishop of Acre. After the battle of Hattin helped Heraclius, to organize the defense of Jerusalem, but was forced to surrender on October 2. Heraclius negotiated the terms themselves, and Saladin allowed him and other Christians to leave the city for ransom without damage. It is reported that Heraclius removed the gold from the churches, and when he withdrew truckloads of treasures brought with him.

After the fall of Jerusalem, Heraclius took refuge first in Antioch. From 1189 he participated in the costly siege of Acre. There he fell ill in October 1190 heavy and probably died the following winter. When Acre was finally conquered in July 1191, he had already died.