Revision Topic Sheet 13: Hospitallers' Foundation

Question 1

What was the first hospital used by the Hospitallers?

Answer 1

St John’s, a church that was destroyed in 1012 by a caliph named Hakim but was reconstructed in 1123 by his successor Zahir. The hospital was attached to the church and was dedicated to help needy pilgrims.

Question 2

Who was Gerard?

Answer 2

Gerard became the head of St Johns hospital in 1080 after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He was arrested and tortured during the 1099 siege of Jerusalem for throwing food to the Crusaders. He was released after the capture of Jerusalem and began to receive donations and privileges from the Crusaders for his work with the sick and wounded Crusaders.

Question 3

How did St Johns hospital develop into an international order?

Answer 3

The donations and privileges from the Crusaders gave the hospital a lot of influence, which under the leadership of Gerard spread until the Patriarch of Jerusalem recognised its influence in 1112. By 1113 the Knights Hospitaller Order was formally created with a monastic charter from Pope Paschal II.

Question 4

What privileges were granted to the Hospitallers?

Answer 4

The Hospitallers were granted 4 major privileges:

1. They answered only to the Pope
2. They were exempt from giving taxes to the church
3. They owned all land given to them
4. They had to right to elect their own superior

Question 5

What were the main ideals of the Hospitallers?

Answer 5

They honoured pilgrims for representing Christ but accepted patients of all religions. They also followed Christianity in a similar manner to the Cistercians, where they renounced indulgences such as money for a life of prayer, manual labour and helping the poor.