
Pierre de Mirmande

Pierre de Mirmande was a French dignitary of the Order of Saint-John of Jerusalem from the end of the 12th century to the beginning of the 13th century.
The French historian Augustin Chassaing wrote about him : « This is an interesting and very rare chance to meet the starting point in the West of an Hospitaller, called to command, thirty years later in the East, one of the most important places of war of the order ».
Early life.
Before his entrance in the order, he was the Lord of Mirmande and was married to Guillemette. He had two sons Odon and Etienne. Today the remains of the castle of Mirmande is near the village of Saint-Jean-Lachalm in the French department of Haute-Loire.
Career.
The first mention of Pierre de Mirmande is in a charter. It dates from May 1163 when he entered the order at the Saint John's commandery of Le Puy-en-Velay.
We find him as a brother in 1184 in Saint-Jean-d'Acre under the magisterium of Roger de Moulins.In 1187, this is the battle of Hattin and the siege of Jerusalem by Saladin.
According to acts of January 1193 and September 1199, he was castellan of the Crac des Chevaliers under the magisterium of Geoffroy de Donjon elected around January 1193.
On March 4, 1202, we know that he is the Grand Commander of the order, still under the magisterium of Geoffroy de Donjon who will disappear after the summer of 1202. The new grand master will be Afonso of Portugal, elected between the fall of 1202 and 1203. Pierre de Mirmande replaces the Grand Master and directs order in the East in his absence. Afonso of Portugal will join his post during the year 1203.
It's in this context that on March 23, 1203, Pierre de Mirmande left on a diplomatic mission alongside Philippe du Plaissis, Grand Master of the Order of the Temple and Soffredo Gaetani, legate of Pope Innocent III. All three attempt mediation to resolve the war of succession between Bohemond IV and Raymond-Roupen concerning the Principality of Antioch.