Quesitorial Report: Chevalier Mathieu de Chesney

Mathieu de Chesney became a mundane person of interest upon his return to Occitan having been ransomed by Phillip II during the King's summer campaign in Acre in 1197. Upon his return, Mathieu de Chesney was made Lord of Montpeyroux which included the castle and village of the same name, both within the demesne of Guilhem VIII, Lord of Montpelier.

The following is a brief biographical report on Mathieu de Chesney:

1170: Born the second son to Guillaume de Chesney of Avignon, Mathieu appears to have received the education one would expect of a spare heir. His early years were largely unremarkable.

1190: Mathieu received his spurs and was knighted by the hand of King Phillip II as the Third Crusade began. Mathieu sailed with the Crusaders from Genoa to Acre where he participated in the siege, receiving accolades for his courage, his skill with the longsword, and his ability to lead soldiers.

1191: In July, Sir Mathieu continued with the Crusader army led by Phillip II and Richard I of England as they marched south along the coast. Mathieu fought valiantly in the Battle of Arsuf on September 7 when the Crusaders defeated the Army of Saladin.

In October of the same year, while leading a scouting party near Jaffa, Sir Mathieu was captured by a raiding party of Muslim horsemen. While he fought bravely, Mathieu was injured (losing his left ear) and was forced to watch while his footmen were executed before his eyes. He was taken to the nearby fortress of Ascalon as a prisoner of war and hostage.

By Sir Mathieu's own account, it was at Ascalon that he met his captor: the noble and learned Arab leader, Al-Malik Al-Adil, brother of Saladin and eventually governor of Egypt. Perhaps impressed by Mathieu's courage or his skills with the blade, Al-Adil treated Mathieu with the respect due his station. At Mathieu's insistent request, Al-Adil allowed the young knight to be educated alongside his daughter, Jamila, a reportedly beautiful and intelligent young woman.

Note: We believe that Al-Adil had in his employ a Sufi Mystic who was instrumental in Sir Mathieu's education, though we find no evidence that Mathieu learned any magical or supernatural arts. We also have reason to believe that Jamila and Mathieu were married under Islam and that they had at least two children. Little is known of what has become of them or of Jamila.

1197: Mathieu remained in captivity in Ascalon until Philip II's return to Acre to join the German Crusade. By July of the year, Phillip II secured the return of a number of hostages, most by force of arms during that summer's campaign through the region. Sir Mathieu returned to Montpelier independently, apart from Philip's army (who returned in September). He held in his possession a letter from the king requesting that Guilhem VIII elevate Mathieu as a Chevalier Banneret and grant him "castle, manor, and lands befitting a of Acre and hero of the Crusades."

1198: Guilhem VIII accepts Mathieu's Oath of Fealty, bestows on him lands of Montpeyroux, including the castle, and betroths him to Lady Agnes, an heiress of manor and associated lands near to Montpeyroux.

1199: Mathieu, now Lord of Montpeyroux, establishes himself in his new lands. He appears to be a fair leader, though there are already indications of his tolerance for those of different faiths, perhaps to curry favor with Lord Guilhem or perhaps because of the education he received while in captivity.

Note: Mathieu de Chesney's association with the Knights Templar is still uncertain. His return from the Holy Land apart from Phillip II's entourage may indicate a certain estrangement though the veracity of his letter of commendation from Phillip II appears to be authentic. This young lord bears watching, particularly if he begins to associate with Cantus Arborum.