Godfrey de Saint-Omer


Godfrey of Saint-Omer was a Flemish knight and one of the founding members of the Knights Templar in 1119.
He is said to have come from the family of the Lords of Saint-Omer, possibly the son of William I, Lord of Saint Omer and Melisende de Piquigny.
There are conflicting reports as to Godfrey's relationship to William and Hugh of Fauquembergues. Chronologically Godfrey may have been Hugh's brother but it is also said that he was Hugh's son. On the list of crusaders, a Gauthier de Saint-Omer is listed, which could be a mistake for Gaufred. Therefore, Godfrey probably came to Jerusalem in 1099 with William I and Hugh.
According to legend, Hugues de Payens and Godfrey were so poor that between the two of them they had only one horse, and this gave rise to the famous image on the seal of the Templars, of two men riding a single horse.