94 THE ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES
consider the importance of the London commandery, we can also imag-
ine the size of the community of builders who worked there, first
directly for the Temple, then for many years under its high authority.
The establishment of the Templars in Normandy also extends far
back in time, having been encouraged by Richard, king of England,
who also held the title of duke of Normandy. It was most likely Templar
architects from Richard the Lionheart's entourage to whom we can
attribute construction of the remarkable fortress that was built in the
space of sixteen months (1196-1197) above the Andelys and on the
right bank of the Seine and was gallantly baptized with the name
Chateau Gaillard. It was so superior in construction to all its contem-
poraries that on its completion the king was compelled to cry out in
admiration, "How beautiful she is, my one-year-old daughter!"
The Templars maintained numerous and important commanderies
throughout Normandy. In the Seine Maritime region there was Saint
Vaubourg; in the Eure there was Renneville, Chanu, and Bourgault; and
in Calvados there was Beaugy, Bretteville, Voisinier, and Courval. It so
happens that in Normandy, as in Flanders, the same coincidence holds
true: the simultaneous creation of the guilds and the establishment of
the Templars. Guilds did in fact exist in Rouen, where privileged sites
were known as franches aires,^12 and in Caen, since the first half of the
twelfth century.
Other characteristic examples of the formation of guilds can be sin-
gled out in France. One of the most important is the oldest known mas-
tery association of lay builders, the Cloture Commune of Montpellier,
which grouped masons (maytres de payra or peuries), stone carvers,
sculptors (ymagiers), and carpenters. In 1196 this association had
received a written guarantee of assistance and protection from William
VIII, lord of Montpellier.^13 The Templars established themselves at the
same time in this city, where they too enjoyed the protection of the
lords. For example, William VIII left them properties in his will of
September 29, 1172. Templars again appear in the Customs of
Montpellier conceded by King Pierre of Aragon, lord of the city, on
August 15, 1204.^14 As a rule, the Templars had been long established in
these regions of the Midi, where they were of considerable importance.
In 1146 they already had a seat in Nimes and in 1173 they had one in