Josef de Gonneville

Quarterly gules and argent, a cross counterchanged overall a pithon nowed erect wings addorsed within a bordure Or.

Josef de Gonneville served The Crown and the Lands as the Second Baron of Blatha an Oir from Oct 17 AS 22/1987 until Oct 15 AS 23/1988.

Josef was born in the area now known as the Alsace in the Year of Our Lord 1285. Son of a minor noble he entered the service of Geoffrey de Gonneville, Preceptor of Aquitaine and Portieres of the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple (Templars). He became a Serjeant at Arms as a Templar and spent ten years on Rhodes and in the Holy Land defending the remaining Christian strongholds. In 1310 King Phillip (referred to as "The Fair") launched his inquisition against the order. Forced to flee Josef arrived in Scotland which was under a Papal Ban and not required to participate against the Templars. While serving under the Scottish King (Robert the Bruce) he met and wed a beautiful red-haired Irish lass named Aliena of Ierne. Returning to his native home at the death of his father, Josef and his bride live happily ever after. .