Otto de Grandson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otto de Grandson
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Otto I de Grandson, detail from his effigy in Lausanne Cathedral
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| Born | c. 1238 Lausanne, Savoy |
| Died | 1328 Aigle, Savoy |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of England |
| Service/ |
Savoyard knights |
| Rank | Baron Grandison |
| Other work | Governor of the Channel Islands |
Otto de Grandson (born around 1238, died 1328) was a very important knight from Savoy. He was one of the most trusted friends and helpers of King Edward I of England. Otto was known for his loyalty and bravery. He served the king in many battles and on important diplomatic missions across Europe.
Contents
Otto's Family Background
Otto was the son of Pierre, who was the lord of Grandson. This area is near Lausanne in Switzerland. His mother was Agnès de Neuchâtel.
Otto had two younger brothers, William de Grandison, 1st Baron Grandison and Henri de Grandson. Both of them also came to England to serve the king. His cousins, Pierre de Champvent and Guillaume de Champvent, joined them too.
Serving the King in England and Wales (1265–1290)
Young Otto probably came to England around 1252. By 1267, he was working for Prince Edward, who later became King Edward I. Otto likely helped Prince Edward in battles like Lewes and Evesham. For his service, he received land in London.
In 1268, both Otto and Prince Edward became knights. In 1271, Otto went with Edward on a journey called the Ninth Crusade. He fought bravely in a city called Acre. Some stories say that Otto even saved Edward's life after an attack.
After returning to England, Otto became a key knight in King Edward I's household. He helped the king in his campaigns in Scotland and Wales. From 1284 to 1294, Otto was the chief judge of Wales, based at Caernarfon Castle.
Otto's Role in the Welsh Wars
During the Welsh Wars, Otto was very active. He was involved in both diplomacy and fighting. In April 1277, he helped with the siege of Dolforwyn Castle. He also helped Edward make the Treaty of Aberconwy in November 1277, which ended the first invasion of Wales.
In 1278, Edward sent Otto to Duchy of Gascony to help improve the government there. He was also a skilled diplomat, making connections with many rulers in Europe. During the second invasion of Wales in 1282–83, Otto nearly died in a battle. But in April 1283, he led 560 soldiers to capture the town of Harlech. He was among the first to see the future castle sites at Caernarfon and Harlech.
People said that Otto was excellent at carrying out the king's wishes.
Governor of the Channel Islands
Otto was also made the governor of the Channel Islands. In 1290, he appointed special officers called bailiffs for Guernsey and Jersey. These bailiffs were given civil powers to manage the islands.
Crusading Adventures (1290–1299)
In 1290, King Edward I sent Otto to Acre in the Holy Land. Otto was in charge of the English knights there. When Acre fell to the Muslims in 1291, Otto showed great courage. He saved the life of another knight from Savoy, Jean I de Grailly. Otto took control of Venetian ships, filling them with fleeing soldiers and the wounded. He was the very last person to get on board.
After Acre fell, Otto went to Cyprus. He then made a special trip to Jerusalem. Around 1298 or 1299, Otto worked with Jacques de Molay of the Templars and Guillaume de Villaret of the Hospitallers. They fought together in Cilicia to stop an invasion by the Mamluks.
Back in England and Later Life (1299–1328)
In 1299, Otto was called to Parliament. This made him a Baron Grandison, a special title. However, this title ended when he died.
In 1307, after King Edward I passed away, Otto left England for good. But he still worked for the English crown. Until 1317, he represented England at the Pope's court. He also kept his interests in England and Ireland. In 1277, he had been given the Channel Islands as a lordship for life as a reward for his service.
In 1323, he visited the Channel Islands with twenty crossbowmen as bodyguards. He had been ruling these islands from afar. Otto also used his wealth to support religious groups. He helped Vale Royal and Saint Jean de Grandson. He also started a Franciscan friary in 1289 and a Carthusian monastery in 1317.
At the end of his life, Otto returned to Grandson, the place he had inherited from his father. He had visited Grandson many times throughout his life. Otto never married. His nephew took over his family's affairs after he passed away. He helped many of his relatives, especially in the church. Three of his relatives became Bishops of Lausanne, and another nephew, John Grandisson, became a bishop in England.
In the spring of 1328, the ninety-year-old knight began one last trip to Rome. Near Aigle, he became ill and died on April 5, 1328. The Pope ordered his tomb to be placed in the Lausanne Cathedral.
Images for kids
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Tomb of Otto de Grandson in Lausanne Cathedral.
