Master James of Saint George (–1309; French: , Old French: Mestre Jaks, Latin: Magister Jacobus de Sancto Georgio) was a master of works/architect from Savoy, described by historian Marc Morris as "one of the greatest architects of the European Middle Ages". He was largely responsible for designing King Edward I's castles in North Wales, including Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon (all begun in 1283) and Beaumaris on Anglesey (begun 1295).
Origin and early life
There is little firm documentary evidence of James’ early life and origin. Circumstantial evidence, however, suggests that his place of birth was Saint-Prex in or around the year 1230. His father was also an architect mason, named John. This strong evidence related to his father, including year of death and architectural style, lead to the conclusion that John was Jean Cotereel the builder of Saint-Prex and Lausanne Cathedral. Of particular interest are the similarities of the rose windows at Canterbury Cathedral and Lausanne Cathedral and the similarity of the west window of Lausanne Cathedral to that of the eastern hall window later built at Conwy Castle.
Alpine works
The career of “Magistro Jacobo” began with the construction for Peter II, Count of Savoy of Yverdon-les-Bains Castle. At Yverdon, James was at first working with his father John, but by 1265 he is recorded as working alone, likely indicating the death of his father. From his apprenticeship to his father he went on to work under the guidance of an engineer from Gascony, who had previously worked for Henry III of England, Jean de Mézos. James worked at the at Salins-les-Thermes at works dictated by Mézos in 1267-68.
Following the death of Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1268 he went on to work for his successor, Philip I, Count of Savoy. Unlike Peter, who had preferred Chillon Castle as his main residence, Philip preferred the Viennois which was closer to his former see of Lyon. Philip began construction of a new palace castle at . Building the castle would be Magistro Jacobo; his name "Saint George", only acquired after moving to England, may well be a reference to this castle of and/or his prior residence at the village of the same name. The first reference to this name in English records is Magistri Jacobi Di Sancto Georgio on 8 November 1280, two years after his arrival into England. His patron, King Edward I, probably met Master James of St George whilst returning from Crusade and visiting Savoy in 1273. It was 25 June 1273 that King Edward I of England visited so that his great-uncle Philip I, Count of Savoy might pay homage to him in fulfilment of an earlier 1246 treaty whereby the castles of Bard, Avigliana, the palace of Susa and town of Saint-Maurice had been enfeoffed to the King of England.
James was responsible for the castles constructed for Philip I, Count of Savoy in the between 1270 and 1275 at , , and . It is very possible that the simultaneous construction of these castles, three round tower castles and one octagonal tower palace castle, influenced Edward’s decision to hire him to construct the castles in north Wales. Perhaps his last work in Savoy was at in the Aosta Valley in the summer of 1275.
There is an archival gap of the career of Magistro Jacobo between 1275 when he is last recorded in Savoy and 1278 when first recorded in Britain. Marshall has suggested that during the 'gap' he may have been working for the family of Otto de Grandson who was close to both Edward I of England and the comital family of Savoy, poasibly including the construction of Grandson Castle and Lucens Castle.
Historian and author A. J. Taylor proposed in 1950 that and Master James of Saint George were one and the same man. Taylor travelled from Wales to Savoy, noting the similarities of their castles' architectural features, citing the garderobes at La Bâtiaz Castle, the windows at Chillon Castle along with the town walls at Saillon as examples.