Those who are soldiers of the temple are of God.
He was born in 1078 in France, the second of three sons of Renaud de Craon and Enoguen De Vitré. Maurice – Robert and Guy de Craon. He settled in Aquitaine and was betrothed to the daughter of the lord of Angoumois. Amélie De Chabanais.
He gave up his fiancée and traveled to Palestine after learning that Hugues de Payns (Hugh of Payens) had founded the Templar Order.
His courage and piety earned him the appointment of Grand Master on the death of Hugues de Payens in 1136. Shortly after his election, he and his troops defeated the emir of Aleppo, who was engaged in brigandage activities throughout Palestine.
Under Robert’s magisterium, the Knights Templar were authorized by Pope Eugenius III to wear the Red Cross pattée. Pope Innocent II, she says: “Omne datum optimum (March 29, 1139) specifies the privileges of the Order”
The most important is the exemption from episcopal jurisdiction; the Order will be able to have its own priests, its chaplains will not report to the bishops.
To this is added the exemption from tithes; an enviable privilege.
Later still: “Ecclesiasticis utilitalibus”, dated from the Lateran, which confirmed acquired possessions.
He remained Grand Master until his death on 13 January 1147 and was then succeeded by Everard De Barres.