Albéric Clément
First Marshal of France in the 12th century
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Albéric Clément (c. 1165 – 3 July 1191) was the first Marshal of France (Marescallus Franciae), a position created for him by Philip Augustus in 1185.[1] He also inherited the seigneurie of Mez (later Mez-le-Maréchal) in Gâtinais after his father's death in 1182.
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Hersende de Mez (mother)
Henry I Clément (brother)
Hugh Clément (brother)
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Kingdom of FranceAlbéric Clément | |
|---|---|
Albéric Clément, Marshal of France by Henri Decaisne, 1844 | |
| Born | c. 1165 |
| Died | July 3, 1191 (aged 25–26) |
| Relatives | Robert III Clément (father) Hersende de Mez (mother) Henry I Clément (brother) Hugh Clément (brother) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of France |
Rank | Marshal of France |
Conflicts | |
Albéric was born sometime in the mid-1160s to Robert III Clément and Hersende de Mez, and thus came from a knightly family- the Cléments of Mez.[2][3][4] He accompanied Philip on the Third Crusade as Marshal, and distinguished himself at the Siege of Acre in particular, frequently leading the advanced guard into battle.[3][5][6]
Albéric is said to have died on 3 July 1191, during an attempted breach of the city's walls, with accounts by those such as contemporary poet Ambroise suggesting the Marshal led the charge himself and died on- or close to the Accursed Tower, after swearing that he would either die that day or enter Acre.[5][6][7] Some accounts describe Albéric charging the walls with Philip's standard in hand and a number of men with him, attempting to scale the walls with a ladder, being pulled up with a grappling hook by the Saracen defenders and isolated from his men by rocks thrown onto the climbing assault party.[7] Other accounts describe the ladder breaking under the weight of the Marshal's followers, leaving him alone on the wall.[6] Thomas Asbridge presents two differing accounts of what happened on top of the wall, one from Christian’ observers: "[Albéric] was reported to have fought on alone with 'exceptional valour', leaving his stricken compatriots to watch from below as ’the Turks surrounded and crushed him, stabbing him to death'".[8] From a Muslim perspective, Asbridge presents the following testimony: "[Albéric] made a pathetic attempt to plead for his life, offering to arrange the withdrawal of the entire crusade, before being butchered by a zealous Kurd".[8] What actually happened, however, seems uncertain.
Accounts also go on to describe a defending soldier parading the walls wearing Albéric's armour after his death, stopping only when Richard I of England shot the man down.[6]
Albéric had two siblings, one of whom- Henry I Clément- would go on to become Marshal of France himself.[2]
Duties as Marshal of France
The title of Marshal of France as awarded to Albéric Clément and his successors did not involve command responsibilities of large armies- Albéric held no official command even at Acre. While military in nature, the position was more concerned with management of the king's horses and stables.[5] It was not until the 15th century that the position would move away from managing stables to one with battlefield authority second only to the French sovereign.[5]
Gallery
Ancient coat of arms of the Cléments of Mez.
A map of Acre in 1291 (a century after Albéric's death), showing the position of the Accursed Tower
Death of Albéric Clément, by Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard
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