Pierre de Severy

Originally from Burgundy, Pierre de Severy was a draper around 1283, before being appointed Marshal of the Order of the Temple after 1289, the same year in which his predecessor Geoffroy de Vandac was appointed to this post.

In 1291, he was present during the Siege of Acre where, in his capacity as Marshal, he participated in the defense of the city alongside Grand Master Guillaume de Beaujeu. On May 18, 1291, the Mamluks managed to break through the ramparts, and the Grand Master of the Temple accompanied by Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, Jean de Villiers, went to the breach where they were both wounded. Guillaume de Beaujeu died a few hours later while Jean de Villiers was rescued and transported on a boat in the direction of Cyprus. The Mamluks then enter the city and massacred the inhabitants.[1]

Pierre de Severy was then of charge with Thibaud Gaudin, future successor of Guillaume de Beaujeu, to supervise the defense of Acre, in which only five hundred people remained to protect it. They initially accepted to surrender and let in a detachment of Muslim horsemen, yet the latter attacked the women, which led the two men to push the horsemen out of the city. Pierre de Severy decided to continue defending the city and asked Thibaud Gaudin to reach Sidon by sea with the treasure of the Temple. He then defended the city with his troops in order to allow the inhabitants to flee the fortress to go to Cyprus, while he himself perished against his adversaries.[1][2]

• Burgtorf, Jochen (2008). The Central Convent of Hospitallers and Templars : History, Organization, and Personnel (1099/1120-1310). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-16660-8.
• Grousset, René (1939). L'épopée des Croisades (in French).