GIOVANNI GUALBERTO, Saint. — Founder of the Vallumbrosan Order, born in Florence in the last decades of the 10th century (985, or more likely 995) into the noble Visdomini family, died on 12 July 1073 in the monastery of St Michael the Archangel at Passignano, near Florence, and there was
V. GIOVANNI GUALBERTO, SANTO
2. 21-23), mention is made of his military skill and prompt intervention against the assassins of his father, as well as his victory over Cendebeo (ibid., 16, 9). In 135-34 B.C. he succeeded Simon, who had been killed along with his other two sons. From the outset G. was involved in military actions, first against Ptolemy, the murderer of his family, and then against the Seleucid king Antiochus VII.
Both enterprises proved difficult. However, with the threat of Roman intervention on his behalf, as seems deducible from uncertain notices in Flavius Josephus (Antiq. Iud., XIII, 259-66; cf. XIV, 143 ff., 247 ff.), G. managed to obtain not too harsh terms from Antiochus VII, who intended to secure his southern flank before marching against the Parthians in the northeast of his kingdom. Recognition of Seleucid high sovereignty lasted only briefly, for after the death of Antiochus VII, during the decline of the Greek kingdom, it was easy for G. I. to declare himself practically independent (loc. cit., XIII, 273). Indeed, he was able to begin his expansionist campaigns against Idumaea, Transjordan, and especially against the Samaritans, whose temple on Mount Gerizim he destroyed. In addition to a nationalistic motive, G. I. also aimed at the spread of pure Yahwism, which he often sought to propagate by force, as when he compelled the Idumeans to undergo circumcision and adopt Jewish rites (loc. cit., 257-58).
Within his kingdom— which must have been very prosperous— G. I. had to contend with the divergences between the two antagonistic ideological currents, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. According to Flavius Josephus (loc. cit., 288-98), G. I., who had professed Pharisaic ideas, suddenly switched to the opposing sect and began to persecute his former friends. This change was probably due to the covert opposition of the Pharisees, who disapproved in a man of impulsive and lay character like G. I. both the union of the high priesthood with civil power and his policy toward foreigners, who were even admitted into the ranks of the Yahwistic army (loc. cit., 248-52).