*Grand Master of the Knights Templar
   *In 1185, When King Baudouin of Jerusalem died, there was a dynastic squabble that followed.
Gerard, Grand Master at the time, betrayed an oath made to the dead monarch and thereby brought
the European community in Palastine to the brink of civil war. This wasn’t Ridefort’s only
questionable action. His cavalier attitude toward the Saracens precipitated the rupture of a
long-standing truce and provoked a new cycle of hostilities.
   *In July, 1187, Ridefort led his knights along with the rest of the Christian army into a rash,
misconcieved and as it transpired, disasterous battle at Hattin. The Christian forces were virtually
annihilated, and two months later, Jerusalem itself, captured nearly a century before, was again in
Saracen hands. (bk-1,72)
   *A text in the “Dossier’s Secret” from the Priory of Sion parchments found at Rennes le Chateau
suggest that the knights were planning the destruction of the Order of Sion. The documents mention
“treason” in regard to Gerard de Ridefort. It does not explain exactly what this treason was, but as a
result of it, the “Initiates” of Sion are said to have returned en masse to France, presumably to
Orleans, in northern France. (bk-1,120)
   *It might be assumed that it was Ridefort’s “treason” whatever it was, that resulted in the loss of
Jerusalem and which caused a large rift between the Order of Sion and the Knights Templar.
(bk-2,65)

Proceed on to The Cutting of the Elm at Gisors