02Knights Templar - Julian Emperor

SAINTS
portrait of himself in an Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscript
called the ‘Glastonbury Classbook’ and his renown as
an artist and craftsman grew during his time as a hermit at
Glastonbury.
After his difficulties at the court of King Athelstan his fortunes
changed. He became an advisor to the king’s niece who
left money to him when she died. He also grew financially
richer when his own father died and, when Edmund was
crowned king of Wessex, he was summoned to his court.
Once again St Dunstan became the focus of court intrigues
but, when King Edmund was nearly killed during a hunting
accident, his fortunes changed again.According to accounts of
the time, Edmund was nearly carried over a cliff by his horse
but, at that exact moment, was said to have thought of St
Dunstan’s poor treatment at his court and promised to rectify
the situation if he survived the imminent disaster.
Miraculously, his horse is said to have stopped in its tracks and
the king’s life was saved. In thanks, Edmund made St Dunstan
the abbot of Glastonbury and gave him money to rebuild and
extend the abbey and its buildings. St Dunstan reversed the
decline of the abbey at Glastonbury and its monks adopted the
Benedictine rule.
In 946 AD, King Edmund was assassinated and succeeded
by King Edred to whom St Dunstan was such a loyal servant
and advisor that the king entrusted him with part of the royal
treasure. However, upon his death, St Dunstan found himself
at odds with his successor King Edwy and was once again
driven from court.This time, fearing for his life, he fled to the
Abbey of Mont Blandin near Ghent in Flanders. His stay at the
abbey was to be of great importance because it gave him the
opportunity to see at first hand a monastery that followed
strict observance to the Benedictine rule and had undergone
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