Robert was the son of
Renaud le Bourguignon and Ennoguen de Vitré. He was engaged to the daughter of the lord of
Angoumois but gave up his wedding and travelled to
Palestine after learning of the foundation of the Templar Order by
Hughes de Payens. He soon showed his military valour and his piety. From 1132-1134, he was the
seneschal of the order, and following the death of Hughes, in 1136, he was chosen as the new Grand Master. He proved to be a brilliant organizer and legislator, and turned the Order into a major force in the
Crusader states. On March 29, 1139,
Pope Innocent II issued the
bull Omne Datum Optimum, which exempted the order from
tithes and made them independent of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Templars were also granted the habit of a red cross over a white tunic. In 1143, Robert and
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona negotiated the donation of six castles and dependent enclaves consisting of Monzon, Mongay, Chalamera, Barbara, Belchite, and Remolins. He participated in the
Council of Acre during the
Second Crusade on 24 June 1148 and supported the decision to
attack Damascus. Robert died on 13 January 1149, and was succeeded by
Everard des Barres in April that year. ==Notes==