Robert Levitt

After a 25-year career researching the future as a global investment fund manager, Robert has turned his sights and attention to researching the past, pursuing a Master’s Degree in medieval history at the université Lyon2 and in conjunction with the research center, Histoire, Archéologie, Littératures des mondes chrétiens et musulman médiévaux (CIHAM).  His masters’ dissertation, directed by Armand Jamme from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), centres around a particular noble family “de Grasse” from Provence (Le Bar-sur-Loup) during the 14th century, who went on to the Kingdom of Naples to seek their fortune.  This family touched many of the historical events which occurred at the time and at least seven historical novels were written about them in five languages.  In developing a reconstructed biography, Robert reexamines the period through their lives, particularly of one, Montréal d’Albarno, who became one of the most infamous characters of his time, leading a professional mercenary army.  His DEMM project centres on transcribing and translating unedited letters from the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, held at the National Library of Malta.