Rainald II Masoir was the lord of

Margat Margat, also known as Marqab (), is a castle near Baniyas, Syria, which was a Crusader fortress and one of the major strongholds of the Knights Hospitaller. It is located around from the Mediterranean coast and approximately south of Baniyas. ...

from 1140 to 1185. In 1133, his father lost his castle to the Muslims, but it was regained in 1140. Rainald was an avid supporter of

Aimery of Limoges Aimery or Aymery of Limoges (died 1196), also ''Aimericus'' in Latin, ''Aimerikos'' in Greek language, Greek and ''Hemri'' in Armenian language, Armenian, was a Roman Catholic ecclesiarch in Crusader States, Frankish Outremer and the fourth Latin ...

, taking his side against

Bohemond III of Antioch Bohemond III of Antioch, also known as Bohemond the Child or the Stammerer (; 1148–1201), was Prince of Antioch from 1163 to 1201. He was the elder son of Constance of Antioch and her first husband, Raymond of Poitiers. Bohemond ascended to the ...

during the latter's war with the church.

Early life

The date and circumstances of Rainald's birth are not known. He was the son of

Rainald I Masoir Rainald I Masoir, also known as Renaud I Masoir (died around 1135), was constable of the Principality of Antioch from around 1126, and also baillif (or governor) of the principality from 1132. Although he was a prominent military commander and hel ...

, an influential

Antiochene Antioch on the Orontes (; , ) "Antioch on Daphne"; or "Antioch the Great"; ; ; ; ; ; ; . was a Hellenistic Greek city founded by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BC. One of the most important Greek cities of the Hellenistic period, it served as t ...

nobleman, described by

Walter the Chancellor : Walter the Chancellor (also known as Galterius cancellarius, the Latinized form of his French name, Gautier) was a French or Norman crusader and author of the twelfth century. He served as Chancellor of the Principality of Antioch and wrote '' ...

as "of illustrious birth, powerful in property, of a great spirit and courageous in his person". In 1133, the castle of Margat was lost to the Muslims, and Rainald's father likely died the following year; Rainald would subsequently inherit the title of constable. However, the castle was retaken by the crusaders in 1140, and Rainald regained possession and power over it.

References

Sources

* * {{Refend Nobility of the Principality of Antioch 12th-century French people