Knight Banneret Sir Rufus de Aquitaine

Born 2 days before All Saints Day in the year of Our Lord 1165, his father Robert named his third son Rufus as he was born with his mothers red hair. As the years aged him, he took the looks more of his father, his hair becoming fairer until the only sign of his mothers heritage lay in his beard. Being the clean-shaved Norman he was, it was rare to see the inherited red whiskers.

With both his elder brothers learning the arts of war and the family line kept safe, it was decide that Rufus should be educated and given unto God’s work. In his early years, he was taught how to read and write Latin. Not being a very attentive, the beatings he received during these lessons for incorrect answers still haunt him today. He saw only one book during the years of study, which he read over and over again but that was sufficient for him to learn his letters.

As Lord Robert was frequently travelling the lands with his eldest sons, Rufus was left at the mercies of his mother, Lady Genevieve and the other women folk of the keep. During the time he learnt the arts required of a gentleman, how to serve, how to eat and how to flatter the ladies with compliments and praise. This last skill was taught by the Troubadour Alvere, who with words and song enchanted his listeners and bound them to the stories he told.

Unfortunately, Rufus’ voice had the quality of a bull lowing and not the fine notes of Alvere. Never the less, with a skin of his fathers wine under his belt, he tried and failed miserably to win the attention of the ladies in song, time and time again.

His father held a large tract of land outside the boundaries of the beautiful city of Bordeaux on which he grew the grapes of an excellent wine. Knowing that he was not going to inherit these vines that spread over the hills of his fathers domain, he decided that the consumption of the fermented juice would be his only inheritance.

As the time came closer for Rufus to start the steps of priesthood, he started to notice the effects of the ladies around him. Knowing the final end to God’s following was celibacy, he prayed for God’s mercy and free him from this future, preordained from his fathers decision. As luck would have it, his eldest brother, John befell a terrible tragedy……

Under the influence of his fathers’ wine after a very successful feast, John was frolicking in one of the great vats used by the villeins to mash the grapes. The harvest was promising and much hope was given to it. John lost his balance and slipped on the floor of the vat and struck his head against the edge. They found him in the morning, face down in the vat, obviously dead and purple.

Matthew, now Rufus’ only brother and heir to his father’s lands, was secretly overjoyed.

The parents were distraught, Lord Robert never fully recovering from his grief. As Rufus was now the second son, his father decided that he should start training in the arts of war and not peace. Initially, Rufus was overjoyed. The attention of one of the tone-deaf serving wenches was finally gaining his notice.

Eventually, as all things do, Lord Robert died in one of the coldest winters remembered at a respectable age of 42. His now widowed wife was keen to start life again, free from the dominating influence of Lord Robert.

Lord Matthew was shocked at his mother’s new feelings of freedom and felt that his lands were at risk from a possible wedding so late in life. Without consultation to his mother, he put her in a nearby nunnery with a sizeable donation to the Church to secure his lands.

As this transpired, Rufus was a Squire to his father’s closest friend, Sir Henry de Blois. He never learnt of his father’s death and mothers forced calling until it was too late. Grief stricken and horrified by the actions of his brother, Rufus was filled with seldom seen anger towards Matthew.

Ill at ease with his brother, the calling of the Crusades was like a Godsend to Lord Matthew. Plying Sir Henry with wine at Christmas shortly later, he extolled the glories of the Crusades to recapture Jerusalem from the Saracens and the absolution of life’s sins. This played heavily on Sir Henry’s conscience as he had led a sinful life when he was a youth and felt mortality and damnation heavily on him with the death of Lord Robert.

It was no surprise to Lord Matthew that shortly after, Sir Henry declared that preparing for the new Crusade and would be leaving once the snow had cleared.

Finally the day came. With the blessing of the Bishop of Bordeaux and a more intimate one by the tone deaf serving girl the night before, Rufus left his father’s lands possibly never to return again. Rufus was armoured in his late brother’s hauberk, which in turn was his grandfathers. A successful history of bloody battles came with this armour and he felt encouraged by it’s proven worth.

The journey was uneventful as they travelled across new lands, stopping frequently at the holy shrines and churches. The more they travelled, the more crusaders they met, all wanting to kill the infidels and protect Jerusalem for God fearing Christians.

Sir Henry had enough wealth to purchase a sea voyage for them, although the merchant Genoas charged like they were sailing to the ends of the Earth and not to the centre of the known world. The sea voyage felt longer than the journey already taken with Rufus being violently ill, being sure he would die during the first few days. To his great disappointment, he lived through the entire voyage.

Finally they reached the walls of Tyre. Never had dry land felt so good. As he stepped off, he could feel the earth move under him as if he was still on the ship. The sailors laughed and guaranteed him that he would feel instantly better once he visits a brothel. They always did.

Unfortunately, Rufus never had a chance to try out this proven remedy as his Knight had other plans. They made directly to the household of Sir William of Tyre, a Knight paramount of the city. Sir Henry claimed distant kinship to him and sought hospitality.

The wealth and the difference of it all amazed Rufus. The silks, cotton, jewelry and smells of exotic spices filled the markets. He felt more like a peasant boy instead of a noble’s son. As Rufus lead his Lords destrier through the streets, a noisy commotion exploded to his front. As he passed he noted that a turbaned and robed man that could of only been a Saracen, was being helped up off the road by several Christian merchants while a man-at-arms with a recently broken nose was being pinned and harangued by more than a few people. Obviously, we only kill Saracens that don’t make a profit for us, thought Rufus. He could see the sense in that.

Sir Henry and Rufus finally made it to the walled home of Sir William. Pages led them into the courtyard, took care of their mounts and escorted them to the great hall. They were seated and made comfortable, as they had to wait as Sir William was away shortly on business. After an hour Sir William returned and warmly welcomed the new Crusaders. It was felt that Sir William was more enthusiastic about 2 more trained fighters to protect Tyre than meeting a distant relative.

Sir Henry and Rufus were given the honour of the privacy of a single room for that night. The following day they were introduced to the Lady Isabella de Ferrers, wife of Sir Robert de Ferrers, a man of some worth. Sir Robert was currently away with the business of trade and Lady Isabella had been without the company of people of her station for some time. Once she realised that these two nobles were new to Outremer, she prevailed upon them the latest happenings outside of the Holy Lands. The conversations lasted deep into the night with Lady Isabella educating them on the ways of life in Tyre.

The following day was spent in preparation for Sir Henry to face the Saracens and cleanse his soul. After ensuring that his Lord’s armour was rust free, his sword razor sharp and his saddlebags well provisioned, Rufus wanted to see all the sights that Lady Isabella had told him about the night before.

After dinner, Lady Isabella came to them with an offer. The Lady absolutely had to see this new play but Sir Robert had not yet returned and she had no escort. It being unseemly and foolish to travel the streets alone, Sir Henry offered to attend. Being the diligent squire, Rufus accompanied the pair for the night.

After the play, the trio walked the darkened streets back to the home of Lady Isabella. From a side alley, four footpads rushed the group. Sir Henry was cruelly stabbed through the ribs and collapsed immediately. Rufus drew his sword and removed the villain’s head in a single stroke. His next blow cut deep into the body of the second, cracking the sternum. Kicking the body off his sword, he turned in time to see the third man run into the night with the fourth convulsing on the ground with Lady Isabella’s knife’s hilt protruding from his neck.

Once the criminals were dispatched, they came to the aid of their fallen colleague. With the red, bubbling froth escaping his lips (a sure sign of a fatal wound), Sir Henry de Blois drew his sword and summoned Rufus to his side. Sir Henry lay the flat of his blade across Rufus’ shoulders, honouring him with the title of Knight.

With Lady Isabella as witness, he bequeathed to Sir Rufus all possessions brought to the Holy Lands, money, horses and trappings of war. Lady Isabella knelt down and declared that Sir Rufus will be a Knight Bachelor of her husband, Sir Robert de Ferrers. With a final gesture of understanding, Sir Henry de Blois died in a dark street of the Holy Lands with the stench of rotting garbage and faeces permenting the air.

The service the following day was simple as Sir Henry was laid in holy ground. Sir Robert de Ferrers confirmed the pledge made to the new knight by Lady Isabella. He was now Sir Robert de Ferrers’ man

Sir Rufus sold the armour and sword of his Knight even though he wished it not so. The house he bought was spartan but it was more than he had ever owned before. Life was pleasant throughout. The days not wasted on patrolling were spent at the plays, at the tavern, games and dances. Life was good.

A few years passed in Tyre when terrible news came that the Army of God was smashed on the Horns of Hattin while Sir Rufus was laid low with a fever that almost took him to heaven. After that eventful day, all life was hanging by a thread. Quickly, one by one the Cities of Outremer fell to Saladin. The walls of Tyre refused to fall to the Saracen hordes for all this time. When Guy of Luisignan, King of Jerusalem begged for aid to recapture Acre from the Saracens, the knights of Tyre boarded ships and set upon the Infidels. They fought hard and took many lives but Acre stayed in the hands of Saladin.

When Duke Richard of Aquitaine (also known as King of England by some) came to capture Acre and then Jaffa shortly after, Sir Rufus knew God was watching over them again. When the truce was finally made on 9 August 1192, it was a dream come true. Again, life could be as sweet as it was 5 years before.

It has been 3 years since the treaty was sealed and Sir Rufus is ready to move on. With enough wealth gained through some cunning dealings with the Saracens, he bids Sir Robert good bye and makes the County of Tripoli his new home.

Shortly after settling in to Tripoli, an announcement is carried thought the city. In celebration of the third year of peace, there will be a Grande Tourney, with all knights invited to show their prowess on the field. With such relative peace in the land, the soldiers of God have had little of this violent activity and the list of nobles grows. Rufus sees the chance of a good ransom to be made.

The day will be full of courting, fighting and the telling of large lies. Sir Rufus hears of a beauty there that has recently lost her Lord and has borne his child. Rufus’ days are lean and he looks forward to a noble lady with large assets to give him the comfort he desires. Life could be worse.