Warner of Grez
Encyclopedia
Warner of Grez (died July 23, 1100) was a French nobleman from Grez-Doiceau
, currently in Walloon Brabant
in Belgium
. He was one of the participants of the First Crusade
, and died in Jerusalem a year after the crusade ended.
In 1096 or 1097, Warner sold some of his land to a nearby church in return for a gold chalice worth 20¼ marks
, which helped finance his expenses on the crusade.
According to Albert of Aix
, he was a relative of Godfrey of Bouillon
, and accompanied him on the journey. He went with Godfrey to meet King Coloman of Hungary, and also to meet Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus when they arrived at Constantinople
.
He was mentioned by Albert at the Siege of Nicaea
in 1097 and at the Siege of Antioch
in 1098. William of Tyre
says that when Fatimid
envoys arrived from Egypt
to meet the crusaders, Warner helped escort them back to the coast on their way home. However, Warner and the other escorts were ambushed by the inhabitants of the territory around Antioch when they were returning to the crusader camp. After the crusaders captured Antioch, they were in turn besieged by Kerbogha
of Mosul
, and Warner was part of the fifth division of the army that marched out to attack Kerbogha.
After the crusaders captured Jerusalem
in 1099, Warner was one of the few who remained there with Godfrey. When Godfrey fell sick in 1100, Warner and Tancred, Prince of Galilee
prepared a siege of Haifa
with the Venetian
fleet that had anchored at Jaffa
. Warner became ill during the preparations and did not accompany the siege, but as Albert says, he was "conveyed to Jerusalem on a litter."
In Jerusalem, the new Latin Patriarch
, Daimbert of Pisa, had made an agreement with Godfrey by which Jerusalem would become a possession of the church. When Godfrey died on July 18, Warner and others from Godfrey's retinue did not want Daimbert to take control, so they seized the Tower of David
and prevented Daimbert from entering. According to William of Tyre, this was a shameful act and contrary to Godfrey's wishes, but it may actually have been what Godfrey wanted. Warner sent messengers to Godfrey's brother Baldwin
, Count of Edessa
, but then Warner also died, on July 23. William said that his death was a vindication of Daimbert's claims, although Godfrey's other supporters held the Tower until Baldwin arrived, and the city remained in secular hands.
Albert says Warner "was buried with honour and Christian ritual in the valley of Jehosaphat in the entrance of the church of St Mary the Virgin and mother of Jesus Christ."
Albert says he was "a soldier irreproachable in the art of war" and William calls him a "valiant and intrepid warrior".
Grez-Doiceau
Grez-Doiceau is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Grez-Doiceau had a total population of 12,403. The total area is 55.44 km² which gives a population density of 224 inhabitants per km².-References:...
, currently in Walloon Brabant
Walloon Brabant
Walloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia in Belgium. It borders on the province of Flemish Brabant and the provinces of Liège, Namur and Hainaut . Its capital is Wavre...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He was one of the participants of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, and died in Jerusalem a year after the crusade ended.
In 1096 or 1097, Warner sold some of his land to a nearby church in return for a gold chalice worth 20¼ marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
, which helped finance his expenses on the crusade.
According to Albert of Aix
Albert of Aix
Albert of Aix-la-Chapelle or Albert of Aachen , historian of the First Crusade, was born during the later part of the 11th century, and afterwards became canon and custos of the church of Aachen....
, he was a relative of Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon was a medieval Frankish knight who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until his death. He was the Lord of Bouillon, from which he took his byname, from 1076 and the Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1087...
, and accompanied him on the journey. He went with Godfrey to meet King Coloman of Hungary, and also to meet Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus when they arrived at Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
He was mentioned by Albert at the Siege of Nicaea
Siege of Nicaea
The Siege of Nicaea took place from May 14 to June 19, 1097, during the First Crusade.-Background:Nicaea , located on the eastern shore of Lake İznik, had been captured from the Byzantine Empire by the Seljuk Turks in 1081, and formed the capital of the Sultanate of Rüm...
in 1097 and at the Siege of Antioch
Siege of Antioch
The Siege of Antioch took place during the First Crusade in 1097 and 1098. The first siege, by the crusaders against the Muslim city, lasted from October 21, 1097, to June 2, 1098. The second siege, against the crusaders who had occupied it, lasted from June 7 to June 28, 1098.-Background:Antioch...
in 1098. William of Tyre
William of Tyre
William of Tyre was a medieval prelate and chronicler. As archbishop of Tyre, he is sometimes known as William II to distinguish him from a predecessor, William of Malines...
says that when Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
envoys arrived from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to meet the crusaders, Warner helped escort them back to the coast on their way home. However, Warner and the other escorts were ambushed by the inhabitants of the territory around Antioch when they were returning to the crusader camp. After the crusaders captured Antioch, they were in turn besieged by Kerbogha
Kerbogha
Kerbogha was Atabeg of Mosul during the First Crusade and was renowned as a soldier. He was a Turk who owed his success to his military talent. In 1098, when he heard that the Crusaders had besieged Antioch, he gathered his troops and marched to relieve the city. By the time he arrived, around...
of Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, and Warner was part of the fifth division of the army that marched out to attack Kerbogha.
After the crusaders captured Jerusalem
Siege of Jerusalem (1099)
The Siege of Jerusalem took place from June 7 to July 15, 1099 during the First Crusade. The Crusaders stormed and captured the city from Fatimid Egypt.-Background:...
in 1099, Warner was one of the few who remained there with Godfrey. When Godfrey fell sick in 1100, Warner and Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred was a Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch...
prepared a siege of Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
with the Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
fleet that had anchored at Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
. Warner became ill during the preparations and did not accompany the siege, but as Albert says, he was "conveyed to Jerusalem on a litter."
In Jerusalem, the new Latin Patriarch
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is the title possessed by the Latin Rite Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem. The Archdiocese of Jerusalem has jurisdiction for all Latin Rite Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus...
, Daimbert of Pisa, had made an agreement with Godfrey by which Jerusalem would become a possession of the church. When Godfrey died on July 18, Warner and others from Godfrey's retinue did not want Daimbert to take control, so they seized the Tower of David
Tower of David
The Tower of David is an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem.Built to strengthen a strategically weak point in the Old City's defenses, the citadel that stands today was constructed during the 2nd century BC and subsequently destroyed and rebuilt by,...
and prevented Daimbert from entering. According to William of Tyre, this was a shameful act and contrary to Godfrey's wishes, but it may actually have been what Godfrey wanted. Warner sent messengers to Godfrey's brother Baldwin
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin I of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin I of Edessa, born Baldwin of Boulogne , 1058? – 2 April 1118, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, who became the first Count of Edessa and then the second ruler and first titled King of Jerusalem...
, Count of Edessa
County of Edessa
The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around Edessa, a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity....
, but then Warner also died, on July 23. William said that his death was a vindication of Daimbert's claims, although Godfrey's other supporters held the Tower until Baldwin arrived, and the city remained in secular hands.
Albert says Warner "was buried with honour and Christian ritual in the valley of Jehosaphat in the entrance of the church of St Mary the Virgin and mother of Jesus Christ."
Albert says he was "a soldier irreproachable in the art of war" and William calls him a "valiant and intrepid warrior".