Rostang

Quarterly: 1 and 4, gu a cross arg; 2 and 3, gu an estoile of 16 or [R,U]

Rostang
Rostaing
Rostagne

Tenure

c 1169 Anti-Grandmaster?

Nationality

French

Birth

Death

Notes

Little is known about Rostang. He either succeeded or usurped the Grandmastership following the abdication of Gilbert d'Assailly or possibly after the very short Grandmastership of Cast de Murals, whose office lasted but a few months.
It seems that a disillusioned d'Assailly abdicated and became a hermit either in 1169 or possibly 1170. It is more than likely that the vacuum caused by his abdication may have prompted Rostang to take over the reins whether through an election or by usurpation can only be speculated upon.
The one certain fact we can rely on is that at least one of his seals, bearing the inscription ROSTAGNVS. CVSTOS, is extant. The title "Custos" is used on all seals of the Grandmasters until 1421.
Sources:
De Sandoli, Fr Sabino: Corpus Inscriptionum Crucesignatorum Terrae Sanctae, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum and the Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, 1973, p.96, no.115
Le Roulx, Delaville: Note sur les sceaux de l'Order de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 1881, p. 13.
Pauli, Fr Sebastiano: Codice Diplomatico del sacro militare ordine Gierosolimitano oggi di Malta, Lucca, 1737
I am indebted to Dr MJ Foster for the drawing my attention to this personage.

Blazon

Quarterly: 1 and 4, gu a cross arg; 2 and 3, gu an estoile of 16 or [R,U]
Caution: It is unclear whether Rostang was his Christian or Family name. The Rostang arms therefore can, at best, only be attributed to him.


Tenure	c 1169 Anti-Grandmaster?
Nationality	French

Birth
Death
Notes	Little is known about Rostang. He either succeeded or usurped the Grandmastership following the abdication of Gilbert d'Assailly or possibly after the very short Grandmastership of Cast de Murals, whose office lasted but a few months. It seems that a disillusioned d'Assailly abdicated and became a hermit either in 1169 or possibly 1170. It is more than likely that the vacuum caused by his abdication may have prompted Rostang to take over the reins whether through an election or by usurpation can only be speculated upon. The one certain fact we can rely on is that at least one of his seals, bearing the inscription ROSTAGNVS. CVSTOS, is extant. The title "Custos" is used on all seals of the Grandmasters until 1421. Sources: De Sandoli, Fr Sabino: Corpus Inscriptionum Crucesignatorum Terrae Sanctae, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum and the Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, 1973, p.96, no.115 Le Roulx, Delaville: Note sur les sceaux de l'Order de St. Jean de Jerusalem, 1881, p. 13. Pauli, Fr Sebastiano: Codice Diplomatico del sacro militare ordine Gierosolimitano oggi di Malta, Lucca, 1737 I am indebted to Dr MJ Foster for the drawing my attention to this personage.
Blazon	Quarterly: 1 and 4, gu a cross arg; 2 and 3, gu an estoile of 16 or [R,U] Caution: It is unclear whether Rostang was his Christian or Family name. The Rostang arms therefore can, at best, only be attributed to him.