The Possible Ties of Lord Baldwin, Called Akarins: An Exploration of Social Rank and the Expansion of Templar Patronage in Thirteenth-Century Reims

Authors

Michael Peixoto, University of Oregon

Abstract

This article examines a few large donations that were made to the Templars of Reims, particularly a gift by Baldwin Akarins. While the size of Baldwin’s gift and its mention in the Templar obituary make it unusual, I argue that he could be representative of a type of urban, thirteenth-century Templar donor. Baldwin was a knight, but he seems to have ascended from non-noble lineage while many of his co-donors and individuals referenced in charters related to Baldwin were Armigers, and members of the lesser nobility. These people formed an important base of support for the Templars, but like Baldwin, are difficult to trace from a prosopographical perspective. This article asks if a deeper study of the gifts themselves, the social networks of these donors, and perhaps even the popular imaginings of the lives and meanings of saints to whom the gifts were dedicated, can reveal a more vivid picture of their devotional practices and their essential role in the growth of European crusading institutions such as the Templars.

Recommended Citation

Peixoto, Michael (2019) "The Possible Ties of Lord Baldwin, Called Akarins: An Exploration of Social Rank and the Expansion of Templar Patronage in Thirteenth-Century Reims," Medieval People: Vol. 34: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/medpros/vol34/iss1/5