Nompar of Caumont

Nompar of Caumont (1391–1446) was a Gascon lord who left written accounts of his pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and Jerusalem. His work has also contributed lexicographic inputs to the Dictionary of Middle French.

Biography His family had long allied with the English. He had been named for his paternal grandfather, Nompar of Caumont, the King of England's seneschal of Agenais, who was appointed in April 1400 in English Gascony.

During his minority he was brought up by his cousin the count of Foix, then married young and had two sons.

He left for Compostela in July 1414, at the age of twenty-three, then for Jerusalem, between February 1419 and April 1420. He was, at that time, known as lord of Caumont, Castelnau, Castelculier and Berbiguières.

He was exiled in 1443 by Charles VII, King of France, and dispossessed of his lands in favor of his brother. He died in England three years later, leaving written accounts of his pilgrimages and a book for his children.

Voyaige d'oultremer en Jhérusalem

His book was published for the first time in 1858. Nompar describes the meaning of his pilgrimage and how he was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He criticized the manners of his time. Particularly the lords of his time, more concerned to wage war on each other than to go crusade. He put his own banner next to that of the king of England. And the next day, he created its own order of chivalry which had, for a distinctive mark, an azure scarf.

Works Dits et Enseignemens Voyaige a St Jaques en Compostelle, 1414 Voyaige d'oultremer en Jhérusalem, 1419–1420