Sir Philip d'Aubigny came to the Holy Land in 1222 on the Fifth Crusade, arrived in Jerusalem sometime after 1229 (when the city was restored to Christian control via a treaty), and died there in 1236. In his previous life in England, Philip held the post of Warden of the Channel Islands and tutored the young Henry III. He was also a counselor of King John and is listed among the "illustrious men" in the preamble of the famous Magna Carta (1215).
How Philip came to be buried in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not known, but his memory is preserved by a recumbent marble tombstone engraved with a simple Latin epitaph ("Here lies Philip d'Aubigny. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.") and a Norman shield with his armorial bearings.
The Status Quo document regarding the holy places (as published by the British) explains how the marker survived the centuries in such good condition: "Thanks to the fact that for a long period it was protected by a stone divan built over it for the use of the Moslem guards, the tombstone is in a tolerably good state of preservation."
In 1925, during the British Mandate over Palestine, an excavation of the grave for purposes of restoration uncovered Sir Philip's bones as well as tablets inscribed in Latin describing his family tree. Based on these explorations, Sir Ronald Storrs, the civil governor of Jerusalem and Judea, authenticated the tomb and Philip's lineage in a 1925 article published in The Times of London.
The restoration of the grave was carried out by the British Pro-Jerusalem Society headed by Storrs. At that time the tombstone was re-set slightly below the level of the surrounding courtyard pavement but left visible through a protective metal grating. Today the slab lies in exactly the same spot, but hidden from view by a well-worn wooden hatch.
How Philip came to be buried in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not known, but his memory is preserved by a recumbent marble tombstone engraved with a simple Latin epitaph ("Here lies Philip d'Aubigny. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.") and a Norman shield with his armorial bearings.
The Status Quo document regarding the holy places (as published by the British) explains how the marker survived the centuries in such good condition: "Thanks to the fact that for a long period it was protected by a stone divan built over it for the use of the Moslem guards, the tombstone is in a tolerably good state of preservation."
In 1925, during the British Mandate over Palestine, an excavation of the grave for purposes of restoration uncovered Sir Philip's bones as well as tablets inscribed in Latin describing his family tree. Based on these explorations, Sir Ronald Storrs, the civil governor of Jerusalem and Judea, authenticated the tomb and Philip's lineage in a 1925 article published in The Times of London.
The restoration of the grave was carried out by the British Pro-Jerusalem Society headed by Storrs. At that time the tombstone was re-set slightly below the level of the surrounding courtyard pavement but left visible through a protective metal grating. Today the slab lies in exactly the same spot, but hidden from view by a well-worn wooden hatch.
Sir Philip d'Aubigny came to the Holy Land in 1222 on the Fifth Crusade, arrived in Jerusalem sometime after 1229 (when the city was restored to Christian control via a treaty), and died there in 1236. In his previous life in England, Philip held the post of Warden of the Channel Islands and tutored the young Henry III. He was also a counselor of King John and is listed among the "illustrious men" in the preamble of the famous Magna Carta (1215).
How Philip came to be buried in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not known, but his memory is preserved by a recumbent marble tombstone engraved with a simple Latin epitaph ("Here lies Philip d'Aubigny. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.") and a Norman shield with his armorial bearings.
The Status Quo document regarding the holy places (as published by the British) explains how the marker survived the centuries in such good condition: "Thanks to the fact that for a long period it was protected by a stone divan built over it for the use of the Moslem guards, the tombstone is in a tolerably good state of preservation."
In 1925, during the British Mandate over Palestine, an excavation of the grave for purposes of restoration uncovered Sir Philip's bones as well as tablets inscribed in Latin describing his family tree. Based on these explorations, Sir Ronald Storrs, the civil governor of Jerusalem and Judea, authenticated the tomb and Philip's lineage in a 1925 article published in The Times of London.
The restoration of the grave was carried out by the British Pro-Jerusalem Society headed by Storrs. At that time the tombstone was re-set slightly below the level of the surrounding courtyard pavement but left visible through a protective metal grating. Today the slab lies in exactly the same spot, but hidden from view by a well-worn wooden hatch.
How Philip came to be buried in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not known, but his memory is preserved by a recumbent marble tombstone engraved with a simple Latin epitaph ("Here lies Philip d'Aubigny. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.") and a Norman shield with his armorial bearings.
The Status Quo document regarding the holy places (as published by the British) explains how the marker survived the centuries in such good condition: "Thanks to the fact that for a long period it was protected by a stone divan built over it for the use of the Moslem guards, the tombstone is in a tolerably good state of preservation."
In 1925, during the British Mandate over Palestine, an excavation of the grave for purposes of restoration uncovered Sir Philip's bones as well as tablets inscribed in Latin describing his family tree. Based on these explorations, Sir Ronald Storrs, the civil governor of Jerusalem and Judea, authenticated the tomb and Philip's lineage in a 1925 article published in The Times of London.
The restoration of the grave was carried out by the British Pro-Jerusalem Society headed by Storrs. At that time the tombstone was re-set slightly below the level of the surrounding courtyard pavement but left visible through a protective metal grating. Today the slab lies in exactly the same spot, but hidden from view by a well-worn wooden hatch.
Inscription
HIC JACET PHILIPPUS DE AUBINGNI CUIUS ANIMA REQUIESCAT IN PACE AMEN
Translated: "Here lies Philip d'Aubigny. May his soul rest in peace. Amen."
Gravesite Details
The images are from the Matson Collection, U.S. Library of Congress
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
