Robert of St. Albans

Robert of St. Albans
Born	1150s/60s England
Died	c. 1187 Jerusalem, Ayyubid Sultanate
Allegiance	Knights Templar (before 1185) Ayyubids (1187)
Branch	Saladin's Army
Years of service	c. 1180 – 1187
Rank	Knights Templar, later Army officer of Saladin
Known for	English crusader who, in 1185, 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 in 1185. ^[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, ^[1] but was killed shortly after outside Jerusalem. It stated that: “He devastated the country around Nablus and was killed outside Jerusalem in 1187.” ^[6]

Robert's conversion to Islam caused significant dismay among the Christians and sparked ill-will toward the Knights Templar in general. ^[7]

See also

• List of converts to Islam

References

1. Edbury, Peter W. M; Phillips, Jonathan P.; Riley-Smith, Jonathan Simon Christopher. The Experience of Crusading. Vol. 1. p. 195.
2. Siedschlag, Beatrice Nina. English Participation in the Crusades, 1150-1220. p. 49.
3. Freeman, Edward Augustus. The Reign of William Rufus and the Accession of Henry the First. Vol. 2. p. 123.
4. Childress, David Hatcher. Pirates and the Lost Templar Fleet. p. 94.
5. Daraul, Arkon. A History of Secret Societies. p. 46.
6. Edbury, Peter. The Experience of Crusading. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 195.
7. Keightley, Thomas. Secret Societies of the Middle Ages. pp. 153–154.