Godfrey de Saint-Omer

Who is Godfrey de Saint-Omer?

Godfrey of Saint-Omer was a French knight and one of the founding members of the Knights Templar in 1119.

He is said to have come from the family of the Lords of Saint-Omer, possibly the son of William I, Lord of Saint Omer and Melisende de Piquigny. William and Melisende were known to have a son, Hugh, and both William and Hugh participated in the First Crusade as vassals of Robert II of Flanders. Hugh of Saint-Omer was also mentioned as one of the best knights in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

There are conflicting reports as to Godfrey's relationship to William and Hugh. Chronologically Godfrey may have been Hugh's brother but it is also said that he was Hugh's son. On the list of crusaders, a Gauthier de Saint-Omer is listed, which could be a mistake for Gaufred. Therefore Godfrey probably came to Jerusalem in 1099 with William I and Hugh.

According to legend, Hugues de Payens and Godfrey were so poor that between the two of them they had only one horse, and this gave rise to the famous image on the seal of the Templars, of two men riding a single horse.