Bertrand Embriaco (died after 1258) was a nobleman of Genoese origin and a prominent member of a younger branch of the

Embriaco family The Embriaco family were a prominent Genoese family, who played an important role in the history of the Crusader states. It also gave consuls, admirals and ambassadors to the Republic of Genoa. The family ruled the city of Byblos (in present-d ...

, lords of

Gibelet Byblos ( ; ), also known as Jebeil, Jbeil or Jubayl (, Lebanese Arabic, locally ), is an ancient city in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. The area is believed to have been first settled between 8800 and 7000BC and continuously inhabited ...

in the

County of Tripoli The County of Tripoli (1102–1289) was one of the Crusader states. It was founded in the Levant in the modern-day region of Tripoli, Lebanon, Tripoli, northern Lebanon and parts of western Syria. When the Crusades, Frankish Crusaders, mostly O ...

Biography

Bertrand was the son of Hugh Embriaco and Maria Porcelet. Through his father’s line, he was the grandson of Bertrand Embriaco and Doleta of Armenia, daughter of the Rupenid prince Stephen of Armenia, making him a great-grandson of

William II Embriaco William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

, Lord of Gibelet.

Rebellion against Bohemond VI

In 1252, tensions rose in the County of Tripoli after Princess Lucienne of Segni lost the regency to her son

Bohemond VI of Antioch Bohemond VI (–1275), also known as the Fair, was the prince of Antioch and count of Tripoli from 1251 until his death. He ruled while Antioch was caught between the warring Mongol Empire and Mamluk Sultanate. He allied with the Mongols agains ...

. Though removed from power, Lucienne retained influence through her supporters, which provoked unrest among the local nobility. By 1258, during the

War of Saint Sabas The War of Saint Sabas (1256–1270) was a conflict between the rival Italian maritime republics of Genoa (aided by Philip of Montfort, Lord of Tyre, John of Arsuf, and the Knights Hospitaller) and Venice (aided by the Count of Jaffa and Asca ...

, discontented barons rallied around Bertrand Embriaco, whose estates surrounded the Lordship of Gibelet. Supported by his son-in-law John of Botron, Lord of

Botron Batroun ( ';, ancient Botrys (), is a coastal city in North Lebanon, northern Lebanon and one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is the capital city of Batroun District. Th ...

and a relative of Bohemond VI, Bertrand led a revolt against the prince. The rebels marched on

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis (from , meaning "three cities") may refer to: Places Greece *Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in the Pelasgiotis district, Thessaly, near Larissa ...

, besieging the city. During the conflict, Bertrand personally wounded Bohemond in battle. Bohemond remained trapped until he was rescued by

Templar The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a military order of the Catholic faith, and one of the most important military orders in Western Christianity. They were founded in 11 ...

reinforcements. In retaliation, Bertrand burned the surrounding countryside. However, while visiting one of his villages later that year, Bertrand was ambushed and assassinated by armed peasants. His severed head was sent to Bohemond as a grim trophy. Following his death, hostilities between the Embriaco family and the House of Antioch deepened, sparking a prolonged feud.

Marriage and issue

He married Béatrix de Saint-Siméon, with whom he had several children: *

Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...

(d. 1289 during the Fall of Tripoli), who served as regent of Gibelet for Peter Embriaco. He married Helvise of Scandalion and had issue: **Bertrand (†1289), regent of Tripoli, married a lady of Gibelet. **Hugh, who married Catherine de La Roche. **Agnes, who married Gauvain de La Roche, and later Peter Embriaco, Lord of Gibelet. *William, executed in 1282 at

Nephin Nephin or Nefin (), at 806 metres (2646 ft), is the highest standalone mountain in Ireland and the second-highest peak in Connacht (after Mweelrea). It is to the west of Lough Conn in County Mayo. Location It lies in the centre of Gl ...

alongside his cousins Guy, John, and Baldwin by order of Bohemond VII of Tripoli. *Lucie, who married John of Botron, Lord of Botron. *Marguerite, who married Baldwin of Ibelin.

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Embriaco, Bertrand Christians of the Crusades 13th-century deaths 13th-century Italian nobility Assassinated nobility Embriaco family