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Bernard de Tramelay (died 16
August 1153) was the fourth Grand Master of the Knights Templar.
He was born in the castle of Tramelay near Saint-Claude in
the Jura. According to Du Cange, he succeeded a certain Hugues
as Master of the Temple, although this Hugues is otherwise
unknown. He was elected Grand Master in June 1151, after the
abdication of Everard des Barres, who had returned
to France following the Second Crusade. King Baldwin III of
Jerusalem granted him the ruined city of Gaza, which Bernard
rebuilt for the Templars.
In 1153 the Templars participated in the Battle of Ascalon, a
fortress at that time controlled by Fatimid Egypt. The Templars
constructed a siege tower, which was burned down by the Egyptian
soldiers inside Ascalon. The wind caught the flames and part of
the walls of Ascalon burned down as well.
According to William of Tyre, knights of the Order rushed
through the breach without Baldwin's knowledge while Bernard
prevented other crusaders from following, as he did not want to
share the spoils of the city with the king. Bernard and about
forty of his Templars were killed by the larger Egyptian
garrison. Their bodies were displayed on the ramparts and their
heads were sent to the sultan. Other more modern accounts say
that William of Tyre's version may have been distorted, since it
may have been based on the defensive accounts given by the
army's commanders as to why they did not follow the Templars
into the breach.
In yet another differing account by a Damascene chronicler in
the city, the breach of the wall is mentioned as a precursor to
the fall of the city; he makes no mention of the incident with
the Templars. Regardless of which account is believed, Bernard
was killed and beheaded during the fighting. A few days later,
Baldwin captured the fortress; shortly thereafter, the Templars
elected André de Montbard as their Grand Master.
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