The Knights of St. John – Malta

Written by Ben Kesp

Fortified City of Valletta 

One cannot visit Malta with out hearing about the Knights of Malta. They transformed the island from what they called “a barren rock” into a power base in the middle of the Mediterranean Ocean during the 16th to 18th centuries. 

The Knights Hospitaller rose as a group in a district of Jerusalem associated with a hospital dedicated to St. John the Baptist. In the year 1099 the group became a religious and military organisation under their own charter. The Hospitallers and the Knights Templar became a powerful force in the Holy Land fighting for Christians against the Muslims. However the time for the Hospitallers in the Holy Land was to end with the rise of Islam and they were expelled from Jerusalem. The organisation selected Rhodes (Greece) as their new home and it formed part of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). In the year 1312 Pope Clement V dissolved the Knights Templar and had their property turned over to the Hospitallers. 

St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta 

The Hospitallers withstood many an attack while on Rhodes however in 1522 following many months of siege against a large army led by Suleiman or the “Magnificent” who was the tenth Emperor of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish Empire), they were forced to flee to Sicily. After seven years of moving around Europe they were eventually granted the Islands of Malta, Gozo and the port of Tripoli (North Africa) by Charles V of Spain. The Knights made Vittoriosa (lying south of Valletta) their capital city. The original capital at the time of Malta was Mdina however it did not prove useful for their needs. They did not find the Island of Malta inviting and referred to it as a barren rock however their options were limited. Where else could they have gone with dwindling numbers and no resources? The Knights Hospitallers continued to fight against the Muslims which angered the Ottoman Empire who had not wanted to see them settled again. 

The Ottomans began their assault on the Knights Hospitallers in Malta. The final siege called the “Great Siege of Malta” resulted in the Ottomans retreating and the Knights were victorious. Following the great siege the Knights set out to fortify their cities on Malta and a new city was constructed called Valletta named after the Grand Master La Valette. This city was to become to their new capital - a capital heavily fortified on all sides. The city port would become home of one Europe’s most powerful navies. Many fine hospitals and churches were built. The Church of St. John, Valletta was built in 1577 and the Public Library built in 1786. The Island was developed and became a centre of power in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Life did not remain constant for the Knights and with the Reformation and Counter Reformation which brought on a lack of support from the Catholic Church it brought into question the Knight’s sense of purpose. Their tributes from European nations were dwindling due to changes in religions across Europe. Many of their properties around Europe were gradually lost. This made the Knights look at other alternatives to secure monies. Many turned to serving in overseas navies and more took to piracy and seaport robbery. They accumulated a mass of wealth and the new lifestyle of luxury and idleness made them blind to their true purpose for existing. Europe was watching and was not impressed. 

Knights Hospitaller

Bad luck hit the Knights again when Napoleon captured Malta in 1798. The Knights were dispersed from Malta and their numbers diminished. They looked to the European States to assist them in rising to power again. They found their luck when the Russian Emperor Paul I gave them refuge in St. Petersburg. This began the Russian Knights Hospitallers. Over the centuries the Knights Hospitallers continued to exist, even at times on the brink of extinction. However in 1834 the Pope resurrected the order with a headquarters in Rome. 

From an order developed in the Middle Ages, today it has evolved into the Order of St. John and is a strong vibrant organisation operating globally playing a huge role in first aid, emergency rescue, training and services of care. 

If you wish to read further information on the knights check out: Knights of Malta