Auger de Balben (died c. 1163) was the third Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, holding the office from 1160 until his death.[1] He succeeded Raymond du Puy. Many references list an Arnaud de Comps as Balben's successor, which some believe to be incorrect.[2] His successor was Gilbert of Assailly.[3]

Auger de Balben
TitleGrand Master
Personal life
Born
Diedc.1163
NationalityFrench
Religious life
ReligionCatholic
OrderKnights Hospitaller
Senior posting
Period in officec. 1160 – c. 1163
PredecessorRaymond du Puy
SuccessorGilbert of Assailly
Coat of arms of Auger de Balben

Biography

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Auger de Balben was believed to be born in Dauphiné, at Risoul, despite the absence of any trace in the Dauphinois armorials. He was a former companion-in-arms of Raymond du Puy whom he accompanied in 1157 to Saint-Gilles in 1157 and to Forez in 1158.[4]

In 1160, Auger would have taken part in the Synod of Nazareth and would have pronounced himself as supporting the pope Alexander III against the anti-pope Victor IV. The date of Auger's access to the magisterium is also uncertain. The first document that has come down to us and that probably comes from Auger of Balben dates from 29 November 1160, and the last known act of his predecessor is from 25 November 1158. His magistracy was short-lived, the last mention is of March 11, 1162.[5] He was succeeded by Gilbert of Assailly.[6]

Arnaud de Comps

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Some references list Arnaud de Comps[7] as the successor to Auger and refer to him as the fourth Grand Master.[8] He is today considered to have never existed, his name having appeared in the chronological lists placed at the head of the statutes, but his rank continues to be kept in the lists of grand masters.[9][10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Vann 2006, p. 599.
  2. ^ Josserand 2009, p. 389.
  3. ^ Charles Moeller (1910). "Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem". In Catholic Encyclopedia. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. ^ Harot 1911, p. 11.
  5. ^ Delaville Le Roulx 1904, pp. 62–73.
  6. ^ Phillips, Walter Alison (1911). "St John of Jerusalem, Knights of the Order of the Hospital of". In Encyclopædia Britannica. 24. (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 12–19.
  7. ^ "Arnaud de Comps - 4th grandmaster of the Order of Malta (SMOM)". Archived from the original on 2007-10-12.
  8. ^ Riley-Smith 2012, p. 243.
  9. ^ The Masters of the Hospital of St-John of Jerusalem Archived 2021-10-01 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ Nicolle 2001, pp. 3–4, Chronology.
  11. ^ Flavigny 2006, pp. 317–319.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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Preceded by Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller
1160–1163
Succeeded by