Gerard (c. 1040 – September 3, 1120), variously surnamed Tum, Tune, Tenque or Thom, is accredited as the founder of the Knights Hospitaller who subsequently evolved into the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and the Order of Malta.
He was born possibly at Amalfi and had probably some connection to the convent of Saint Lawrence in Amalfi, which got a gift by Anna, her brother Constantine and Anna's son Maurus, who was one of the founder of the hospice of Muristan among the merchants of Amalfi.[1] Other accounts hold he was born in Martigues, Provence, while one authority even names the Chateau d'Avesnes in Hainaut. Either as a soldier or a merchant, he found his way to Jerusalem, where a hospice had for some time existed for the convenience of those who wished to visit the Christian holy places. Of this institution Gerard became guardian or provost at a date not later than 1100, and here he organized that religious order of St John which received papal recognition from Paschal II in 1113, by the bull Geraudo institutori ac praeposito Hirosolimitani Xenodochii. It was renewed and confirmed by Calixtus II shortly before the death of Gerard in 1120.
| Preceded by None |
Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller 1099–1120 |
Succeeded by Raymond du Puy de Provence |