Eustace Grenier

Eustace I Granier, also known as Eustace Grenier or Eustace Garnier, called in Latin Eustachius Granarius in the charters (born around 1070 and died on 15 June 1123), was a Flemish crusader who took part in the First Crusade. He became lord of Caesarea in 1101, lord of Sidon in 1110, and in April 1123, was elected constable and bailiff of Jerusalem during the captivity of Baldwin II of Jerusalem. Shortly before his death, he defeated a Fatimid army at the Battle of Yibneh near Ibelin.

Grenier is a presumed member of the knights of the diocese of Thérouanne in the County of Saint-Pol who accompanied Baldwin of Boulogne to the Holy Land, as he is quoted in a text written during his life in their honour.

Eustace Granier's place of origin is given by a poem in Latin, the Versus de viris illustribus diocesis Tarvanensis qui in sacra fuere expeditione ("verse about illustrious men of the diocese of Thérouanne who took part in the Holy Expedition"), written by an unknown author who was one of his contemporaries : The author writes nostris diebus ("it happened nowadays"). In this poem Eustace Grenier is cited among the knights of the Diocese of Thérouanne who accompanied Baldwin of Boulogne, the future king of Jerusalem, to the Holy Land. The author writes :
"Par Belramensis, fit princeps Caesariensis
Eustachius notus miles, cognomine Gernirs"
(Trad) :
"Peer of Belrem became prince of Caesarea
Eustace famous knight, named Garnier"

His name is given in Latin under different forms (Garnerius, Granerius, Granarius). He signed as Eustachius Garnerius, in 1110, in a deed of privilege given by Baldwin I of Jerusalem in favour of the church of Bethlehem; his name is Eustachius Granerius in a deed dated of May 5, 1116 in the Cartulary of the Holy Sepulchre, and in 1120 his signature is Eustachius Granarius, in a document signed by Baldwin II of Jerusalem.

William of Tyre, who was contemporary of Eustace Grenier, indicates him as one of the barons of Baldwin of Boulogne.

In the 16th century, Nicolas Despars (Chronicles of Flanders) and Jacques Meyer (Annals of Flanders) mention Eustace Garnier or Grenier in their lists of the Flemish knights who took an active part in the First Crusade.
Jacques Meyer in his Annals of Flanders (1561) mentions that Eustace Grenier was from the diocese of Thérouanne.

In the 16th century, Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange writes : « I find several families with this name of Granier or Grenier in France (…) It is difficult to guess whether Eustache was originally from Aquitaine or Picardy, or even from Flanders, as Meyer wants and who gives him the nickname of Beccam, without I know why. He calls him Beccamensis, that is to say native of Beccam, place which was to be in Flanders or in the neighbouring areas, since the author notes that Godefroi of Bouillon, in the distribution of the conquered places made to the crusader barons, did not forget his compatriots. But we can’t find a town or a village called Beccam. Latin verses in honour of the characters from the diocese of Thérouanne who distinguished themselves in the First Crusade, tell us that Eustache, nicknamed Gernirs, became prince or lord of Caesarea ».

In 1865, Paul Edouard Didier Riant, writes that Eustache Grenier is "one of the Flemish vassals" of the king Baldwin I of Jerusalem.