Arnold of Torroja facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arnold of Torroja
Arnau de Torroja
Arnold of Torroja's Coat of Arms
9th Grand Master of the Knights Templar
In office 1181–1184
Preceded by	Odo of St Amand
Succeeded by	Gerard de Ridefort
Personal details
Born	1122 Solsona
Died	30 September 1184 Verona, Italy
Nationality	Catalan

Arnold of Torroja (Catalan: Arnau de Torroja) was an important knight from a region called the Crown of Aragon. He became the ninth leader, or Grand Master, of the Knights Templar. This was a powerful group of Christian warrior monks. He led them from 1181 until he passed away in 1184.

Who Was Arnold of Torroja?

Arnold of Torroja was born around 1122. We don't know his exact birth date. He was quite old when he became Grand Master. He was over 70 years old at the time. He had been a Knight Templar for many years. Before becoming Grand Master, he was the Templar leader in Aragon and Provence. His brother, Guillem de Torroja, was an Archbishop in Tarragona.

Leading the Knights Templar

Arnold became the Grand Master in late 1180. He took over after the previous Grand Master, Eudes de Saint-Amand, died. Arnold was very experienced in the ways of the Templar Order. However, he was not very familiar with the politics of the Crusader States. These were Christian kingdoms in the Middle East.

Solving Problems with Other Orders

During Arnold's time as Grand Master, there were often arguments. The Templars had disagreements with another big group of warrior monks. These were the Knights Hospitaller. The Hospitallers were becoming very powerful. Arnold knew these fights were not good. They were especially bad when facing a common enemy.

To solve these problems, Arnold helped arrange a meeting. He met with Pope Lucius III and King Baldwin IV. They helped the Templars and Hospitallers make peace. Arnold was known for being a good diplomat. A diplomat is someone who can solve problems between different groups. He helped make peace between several leaders in the East.

Dealing with Saladin

The political situation in the Middle East was difficult. A knight named Raynald of Châtillon attacked Muslim lands. This made the powerful Muslim leader Saladin very angry. Saladin wanted revenge for these attacks. Arnold of Torroja showed great wisdom. He was able to talk with Saladin and make a truce. A truce is a temporary stop to fighting. This helped prevent more conflict.

Military Experience

Most of Arnold's military career was in Spain. He fought in the Reconquista. This was a long series of wars. Christians fought to take back Spain from Muslim rule. He fought for the Crown of Aragon and Portugal. He was especially active in Catalonia and Aragon.

He was chosen as Grand Master because he was an "outsider." This meant his main experience was outside the Holy Land. The Templars wanted someone who wasn't caught up in the politics of Jerusalem.

Journey to Europe

In 1184, Arnold went on an important trip. He traveled with Patriarch Heraclius. He also traveled with Roger de Moulins. Roger was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. Their goal was to get support from European countries. They wanted help for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

They planned to visit Italy, England, and France. But Arnold became very sick during the journey. He passed away in Verona, Italy, on September 30, 1184. After his death, Gérard de Ridefort became the new Grand Master.

Arnold's Final Resting Place

In 2018, something amazing was found. A tomb was discovered in the San Fermo Maggiore church in Verona. Researchers believe it is almost certainly Arnold's tomb.

The tomb had a stone box called a sarcophagus. It had a special cross carved on it. Inside, there were human remains. Scientists from several universities studied them. They think the body belongs to a man in his fifties or older. He lived about 700 years ago. He also had back pain and toothaches.

They also found pieces of fine silk clothing from the 12th century. There was also what looked like a burial cloth. These clues strongly suggest it is Arnold. Scientists plan to compare the DNA from the bones. They will compare it to the DNA of Arnold's brother, Guillermo de Torroja. This will help confirm if it is truly Arnold of Torroja. If it is, it would be the first known tomb of a Templar Grand Master.

See also

In Spanish: Arnaldo de Torroja para niños