Robert of St. Albans

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Robert of St. Albans
Diedc. 1187
Occupation(s) Knights Templar, later Army officer of Saladin
Years active1180 – 1187
Known forEnglish crusader who converted to Islam and led an army against the Crusaders

Robert of St. Albans (died 1187) [1] was an English templar knight who converted to Islam from Christianity. [2] In 1187, he led an army for Saladin [3] against the Crusaders during the Battle of Hattin as well as the reconquest of Jerusalem, [4] which was at the time under the control of the Franks. [5]

Robert eventually married the niece of Saladin, [6] but was killed shortly after outside Jerusalem. [7]

Robert's conversion to Islam caused significant dismay among the Christians and sparked ill-will toward the Knights Templar in general. [8]

See also

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References

  1. The experience of crusading, Volume 1 By Jonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith, Peter W. Edbury, Jonathan P. Phillips, pg.195
  2. English participation in the crusades, 1150-1220, by Beatrice Nina Siedschlag, pg.49
  3. The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First, Volume 2 By Edward Augustus Freeman, pg. 123
  4. Pirates and the Lost Templar Fleet, By David Hatcher Childress pg. 94
  5. A history of secret societies By Arkon Daraul, pg. 46
  6. The experience of crusading, Volume 1 By Jonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith, Peter W. Edbury, Jonathan P. Phillips, pg.195
  7. Edbury, Peter. The Experience of Crusading, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 195.
  8. Secret Societies of the Middle Ages, pg. 153-154, by Thomas Keightley