Amaury

Amaury. For persons thus named, use Amalric.

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(born 1136—died July 11, 1174) King of Jerusalem (1163–74). Amalric was a strong ruler who helped break the unity of Muslims surrounding the Holy Land. He passed a law giving vassals the right to appeal to the High Court against unjust treatment by their lords. His invasion of Egypt (1163) led to a war with Nureddin of Syria, which Amalric lost despite help from Manuel I Comnenus. Though the effort to conquer Egypt failed, the Palestinian-Byzantine alliance continued.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Montfort-l'Amaury

Montfort-l'Amaury is a commune in the Yvelines department in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 20 km N of Rambouillet.

The name originates from Amaury I de Montfort, the first dynasty of the Comtes de Montfort.

Geography

The commune has slopes in the north which includes the Rambouillet Forest which covers 220 km². The city is located on a rocky area of 183 m above sea level.

History

King Robert II built a castle in 996 in the hills of Montfort. The castle was destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years' War. Montfort-l'Amaury was the stronghold of the Montfort family from the start of the 9th century. Amaury I built the ramparts.

The Comté de Montfort was related to the Duchy of Brittany following the marriage of Yolande de Dreux-Montfort with Arthur of Brittany in 1294. The crown returned to France when Brittany became a part of France under Francis I.

Sites of interest

Ruins of the castle
Maison de Maurice Ravel, which is now a museum. 20th century. Maurice Ravel lived here since 1920.
Chateau de Groussay, built in the 19th century