Jobert of Syria


Jobert of Syria was the seventh Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller in Syria from 1172 to his death, which is thought to have occurred in 1177.

Career

He succeeded Cast de Murols, while Cast's predecessor, Gilbert d'Aissailly, who was still living, had been deposed. The memory of Gilbert must have informed Jobert of how not to waste the Order's funds, for he seems to have been a responsible steward of the order's assets. He set aside property for the production of white bread for the poor at the hospital in Jerusalem.
In August 1174, he refused to commit, along with the other Orders, to aiding the Sicilian Navy in attacking Egypt with Miles de Plancy, the regent of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In December he joined the new regent, Raymond III of Tripoli, in a planned attack on Sultan Saladin. He and his forces were with the army that menaced Homs after Saladin had taken it. No battle was fought and the Franks left in exchange for the release of hostages and remission of ransoms.
In 1176, Baldwin IV of Jerusalem confirmed a grant of lands in Egypt to the Order in exchange for assistance from Jobert in the planned campaign there. Though Jobert supported the Egyptian policy, he is last mentioned in January 1177, and his successor, Roger de Moulins, did not agree with the plan, which was abandoned.