ABSTRACT
In 1173-4 Jobert, the Master of the Hospitallers, sent a letter to Archbishop Henry of Reims in which he asked for a property in his diocese. This chapter considers the reasons why Jobert chose to approach Archbishop Henry in particular. In highlighting the Hospitallers' religious work Jobert chose to omit any explicit information about their military role, although he did note that the 'limbs of Christ are weary from diverse occupations', which may be an oblique reference to the fact that the Order engaged in warfare. The most high-profile military action of the time concerned King Amalric of Jerusalem's ongoing efforts to capture Egypt. The Hospitallers' financial and military standing had suffered much in the late 1160s and early 1170s. The emphasis in Jobert's letter on the spiritual aspect of the Hospitallers' work may reflect contemporary concerns over the recent militarization of the Order.
