Renaud II, Count of Clermont

Renaud II of Clermont (Renaud/Rainald II de Clermont; 1075–1152), son of Hugh I, Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, and Marguerite de Roucy (daughter of Hilduin IV, Count of Montdidier). Renaud became Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis upon his father’s death in 1101.

Renaud, also known as Rainald of Beauvais before he inherited the countship of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from his father, took the Cross and joined the First Crusade in the army of Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois, brother of Philip I of France. Hugh led a small army that travelled by ship, in an armada commanded by Arnout II, Count of Aarschot, to the Holy Land. In addition to Ranaud, some of the prominent members of Hugh’s army includedStephen of Aumale, Walter of Domart-en-Ponthieu (St.-Valery), Alan IV Fregant, Duke of Brittany, Walo II of Chaumont-en-Vexin, Girard I of Roussillon, and William V, Lord of Montpellier.

Among the first battles this contingent fought was the Siege of Nicaea. Rainaud also joined Hugh in the Battle of Dorylaeum whose forces were at the rear of the main attack.

Sweetenham reports that during the siege, a Turk armed himself and rode towards the Crusaders at a high rate of speed. Rainaud mounted with his shield and lance, and killed the Turk outright, keeping his horse, much to the delight of the Franks. The Turk was carrying a letter allegedly from Mecca stating that the Turks were bringing their forces to jouse with the Franks in battle. It has been suggested that Rainaud’s actions infringed on the rules of war extant at the time.

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