Name: Jean LeBlanc

Born: 1 January 1244 | Jerusalem

Died: 15 April 1319 | Paris (aged 75)

LeBlanc was born in Jerusalem in 1244, when the Knights Templar just went through the Sixth Crusade and started to decline. In the same year, Jerusalem was recaptured by the Egyptians, so LeBlanc became the last Knight Templar who was physically born in Jerusalem.

As a knight Templar, LeBlanc was highly and strictly educated in not only military and combat skills, but many matters which included religion, history, politics, health and well-being, finance, mathematics, architecture, diplomacy and philosophy. He was taught to firmly conduct chivalry in all situations. The education LeBlanc received made him become a kind man. Even though he went through several wars in Syria, he always helped the victims and local peasants, in whatever small ways.

LeBlanc was always accompanied by three things: a sword and a shield which were both made by Damascus Steel, and a Great Horse named Michel.  In 1291, Knights Templar lost their land in Akko, Israel. In the war, LeBlanc lost his left arm and his horse. He eventually survived the war, however, the ability of battling was forever lost. In the same year, right before Christmas, he decided to go back to France, where his family and team originated.

Despite the loss from the war, LeBlanc was still highly respected in Europe, especially in his real hometown, Paris. As one of the leaders of Knights Templar, LeBlanc held extensive gold, lands and castles. From 1292, when he returned home, to 1307, he kept helping the people who needed help and according to some local peasants, LeBlanc was secretly called “the most charitable person in Paris”. He was also one of the biggest donors to the cathedral of Notre Dame — which was completed later in 1345.

However, at dawn on Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV made an order to simultaneously arrest all the Knights Templar in France. The arrest warrant started with the words: "God is not pleased. We have enemies of the faith in the kingdom”. The reason why the arrest was ordered was that the king himself was deeply in debt to the Templars and he was not able to pay the debts.

LeBlanc spent 12 years in the prison, where he was tortured relentlessly by the prison watchmen. On April 15, 1319, Jean LeBlanc was sentenced to be burned to death by the king.

700 years later, on April 15, 2019, in Paris, Cathedral of Notre Dame, a fire broke out. Jean LeBlanc revived…